A dispute between factory workers and an Indonesian-owned plywood factory in Wakaf Tembusu, Terengganu has sparked one of the longest pickets ever seen on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

Since May 4, about 300 labourers - all locals and mostly women - axed from Metro Pacific Sdn Bhd have been picketing, rain or shine, right next to the gates of the factory during office hours.

The picket, allowed under the Industrial Relations Act, is sanctioned by the Timber Employees Union Peninsular Malaysia's (KPPSM) in the hope that the employers would budge and at least pay the workers their April wages.

But on June 4, things took a turn for the worse when the factory terminated another 40 staff, including office workers and security guards.

Workers victimised

KPPSM secretary-general Mohd Khalid Hassan was among those lobbying for the Terengganu state government to expedite their bid to protect the worker's welfare.

He alleged that the workers were victims of their former employers who allegedly terminated the services of the workers to 'blackmail' the state government to approve their application for timber permits.

This has been made known on Wednesday to Terengganu Menteri Besar Idris Jusoh through a memorandum, which alleged that the company's managing director had once openly told workers to get timber licenses from the MB if they want their jobs back.

The workers' plight began shortly after their collective agreement with the company expired on Dec 30 last year, following which the company unilaterally imposed longer working hours by forcing them to work overtime.

Several disgruntled workers were fired on April 2 while on May 4, almost 300 more were barred from reporting for work. They then began their picket.

The factory is believed to be owned by a close associate of deposed Indonesian dictator Suharto.

Do something more 'useful'

Meanwhile, state executive councillor Dr Abdul Latiff Awang who has been tasked to oversee the matter by the state government, advised workers to stop picketing as he believed it serves no one's benefit.

"They should find some jobs to get income for their families, not sit there day in day out and not getting anything," he said, adding that picketing might antagonise the company.

Latiff said it would be better for the workers to press the management to open up for dialogues as the picket makes it hard for negotiations to take place.

While it was pertinent to protect both locals and foreign investors, Latiff said that the state government's immediate concern was to make sure the workers receive their back wages.

However, the state government has not imposed a time-frame for Metro Pacific to do so.

"We can't set a deadline. If we do that, dia lari lagi susah (they might even close down and run away), Terengganu needs these foreign investors," said Latiff.

No 'Plan B'?

Latiff explained that the state government cannot do much now unless Metro Pacific opens up to discussions with them.

"The company's shareholders are not in Malaysia and we do not know who the decision makers are. The management here have been barred from speaking (to the press and the government) and are saying that they are only taking orders," he said.

He added the state government are expecting Metro Pacific to pay the workers in the near future before looking into other problems like the retrenchment issue and how the company will continue to operate.

He was also irked when malaysiakini pressed on for a back-up plan should the company fail to reimburse the workers.

"We are positive that the company will pay the workers soon. Why are you so negative?" said Latiff when contacted.

According to Latiff, the state Umno has also extended its help by providing some provisions to help ease the burdens of the workers.