The collective agreement (CA) which promised a monthly wage scheme of RM325 for oil palm plantation workers is a "sham", claimed a plantation workers support group today.

According to the Estate Workers Support Group (EWSG), the CA did not possess the features of a monthly wage scheme.

The CA was signed by the Malaysian Agriculture Producers' Association (Mapa) and National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW) on Feb 7 this year.

"It is the same as the 1997 CA, which had the daily wage structure based on 'piece-rate' that included factors which were beyond the workers' control," revealed EWSG activist Rani Rasiah at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

Rani explained that the wages of these workers depended on several factors, such as the weight of the oil palm that they collect, the price of crude palm oil in the market and the yield bracket

"These factors are beyond their control. Even if they worked hard, the total harvest would depend on the genes of the crop, land fertility and weather conditions," she said.

'Safety net'

The 2001 CA implemented a new system guaranteeing a monthly minimum wage of RM325 as a "safety net" as long as workers turn up for work daily and carry out the duties assigned to them.

However, Rani said the minimum wage was not a "safety net" and explained that the conditions attached to the wage were too rigid.

"The RM325 is not a minimum wage. A worker will only receive the amount if he fulfilled the conditions - he must work on all the days allocated by his employer and complete his work," she said.

"This means if he takes one day (unapproved) leave, he may not receive the minimum wage," she explained.

When contacted by malaysiakini , NUPW executive secretary A Navamukundun contended that it is only fair that employers deduct the pay of workers who did not turn up to work without giving reasonable explanation.

He also maintained that the workers still have their annual leave and are entitled to sick leave.

Cosmetic change

Rani also said there was only a marginal increase of wages in the 2001 CA compared with the 1997 CA.

"We found the increase of wage rates varied from 3.2 to 7.7 percent. Therefore, the average increase in wages is in the area of six percent and not 7.5 percent as claimed by the government, Mapa and NUPW," she said.

However, she added that the real question was: Had the real wages of the workers increased?

According to Rani, not only has it not increased, but it actually decreased and this has made workers poorer.

"In the four years since the 1997 CA, the inflation rate has increased 15 percent while the wage increase was only six percent. Therefore, the buying power of the plantation workers has fallen to a point that they can no longer afford to purchase goods which they could four years ago," she said.

At the same press conference, EWSG coordinator Simon Karungaram, said the group totally rejects the 2001 CA.

"The 2001 CA is only a cosmetic change. It's not a minimum wage. It's not a basic wage. It's not a safety net. We don't want the same CA to be signed again," he said.

Four demands

EWSG has been fighting to implement four of its demands which it feels would help elevate the living standard of these workers. They are:

- minimum wage of RM750;

- minimum annual wage increase of RM50;

- minimum annual bonus of one month wage; and

- minimum retirement benefit of RM1,000 for every year of service.

Apart from this, EWSG also demanded that a recent Mapa-sponsored study on the minimum wage rate for plantation workers be revealed to the public.

The study, which was undertaken by consultants from Universiti Malaya (UM), was reported to have cost RM80,000.

Another EWSG activist, Ravie Chandran said that the government is obligated to resolve the plight of the plantation workers.

"We want the government to pass a legislation to implement our four demands. We don't want empty promises," he said.

In November 1999, Works minister Samy Vellu was reported to have said that the minimum wage for plantation workers will be between RM900 and RM1,000.