A group of ex-plantation workers employed by Golden Hope Plantations Bhd are determined to fight for adequate compensation after they were retrenched six years ago.

Over the weekend, the 30-odd disgruntled ex-workers erected a signboard along a main road in the area listing out their demands to send a message to their former employer.

The workers demanded for the housing scheme promised to them, RM1,000 compensation per year of service and access to basic living facilities.

Most of them have worked in the company's Victoria estate, near Kulim in Kedah for decades, some as far back as the 1960s.

In the 1980s, the employer promised to implement a housing scheme to provide workers with their own houses but this never materialised.

As a result of re-planting, Victoria estate retrenched its workers in stages between May1998 to 1999. The workers were also told to leave their residence and the compensation was far below expectation.

Golden Hope wanted to compensate the workers on a rate of 20-day salary per year of service.

Since their retrenchment, most of the ex-workers are still residing in temporary homes in Victoria estate and the company has made no indications of evicting them.

Permanent housing

One of the ex-workers, S Subramaniam, 54, said they had demanded for a permanent housing because it was part of the benefits promised to them.

"We want a low cost house which can accommodate our family and has a small plot of land for us to plant vegetables to cater for our needs," he added when contacted.

"Three generations of my family have worked on this estate but we were not given reasonable compensation. Is it fair to compensate a person who has worked for 20 years with only RM2,000?" he asked.

Subramaniam, who now works as a rubber tapper, said they are worried about their children's future if they do not get adequate compensation.

The ex-workers had repeatedly attempted in vain to hold a dialogue with Golden Hope and seek the intervention of the Kedah state government.

Disappointed, the group decided to erect the signboard. Several non-governmental organisation representatives were also present to support the ex-workers.

Meaningful ceremony

Human rights organisation Suaram coordinator Choo Chon Kai described the putting up of the signboard as a meaningful ceremony.

"The ceremony is significant because it means these workers have moved a step forward in fighting for their rights," he said in a statement.

According to him, the ex-workers have not yet decided to refer their case to the industrial or labour court.

Golden Hope officials in the Padang Serai and Kuala Ketil offices refused to comment.

Early this year, the Plantation Community Support Committee had called for the government to shut down the plantation sector if it cannot protect estate workers and provide them with better wages and living conditions.