MTUC secretary-general G Rajasegaran (photo, right) today openly accused president Zainal Rampak (photo, left) for failing in his duties to represent workers' rights.

"He has failed in his duties (to represent workers' rights). It doesn't matter if we have been friends for 35 years. I must say this because it is true," said Rajasegaran at a press conference held at the Metal Industries and Electrical Union, Petaling Jaya.

"If I do not speak up against this injustice, I will be failing in my duties, too."

Rajasekaran was speaking after delegates from 80 unions met at a two-day workers' conference to identify a series of issues confronting workers and the Malaysian labour movement.

The delegates had noted in a proposal following the conference that more employers are becoming anti-union and the number of cases of wrongful dismissals has tripled in the last three years.

They also called on the government to lift the ban on formation of a national union for electronics workers in the country.

"We have decided to set a six-month time limit for the MTUC leadership to (act) on the proposal," said Rajasegaran.

"We have decided to reconvene another national conference in six months' time to evaluate the progress made and decide the next course of action if things do not get moving," he added.

Early last month, MTUC staged a picket outside the Human Resources Ministry to express their increasing frustration over the ministry's lack of initiative, an action the congress had not resorted to for the last 13 years.

'Clarify actions'

The union delegates also want to take MTUC representatives on the EPF Board to task for allowing amendments to the EPF Act which had slashed employees' death and incapacitation benefits from RM30,000 to a flat rate of 2,000.

"Our representatives have never briefed us," said Rajasegaran, admitting that they had relied on Zainal to inform MTUC.

He said that when unions in MTUC meet again later this month, their representatives on the EPF Board will be asked to explain why they had allowed the amendments to take place.

"EPF's action is most unsympathetic, insensitive and inconsiderate. EPF should take immediate steps to restore this important benefit," he said.

"But the most important thing is that our representatives must come back and inform us about the changes before they take place," he added, stressing that during the last working committee meeting, Zainal had not brought up the matter of the amendments at all.

'Cut down spending, not benefits'

Zainal had said earlier this week that contrary to criticisms and protests, the EPF amendment would benefit the poor and that the reduced rate would ultimately translate into higher dividends for all members.

"This is not true," Rajasegaran refuted. "We have worked out the formula and found out that the poor will lose instead."

Death/incapacitation at 35 years old

(Joins EPF at 18)

EPF Credit
Entitlement
RM20,000 RM9,434
RM10,000 RM4,716
RM5,000 RM2,358

Death/incapacitation at 35 years old

(Joins EPF at 22)

EPF Credit
Entitlement
RM85,000 RM51,829 (cap at RM30,000)
RM50,000 RM30,488 (cap at RM30,000)
RM30,000 RM18,293
RM10,000 RM6,098

According to Rajasegaran's formula, those who start contributing to the EPF at the age of 18 and have an EPF credit of RM20,000 are only entitled to a claim amounting to RM9,343, should they die or become incapacitated at age 35.

Similarly if an EPF member has a credit of RM5,000, he or she will receive RM2,358, which is more than the RM2,000 flat rate.

"If EPF wants to save or give more dividends to contributors, it should cut down on its spending and not on employee benefits," Rajasegaran added.