Group disappointed political parties not showing care for underpaid workers

A workers' rights group declared today that is disappointed with political party coalitions for showing a lack of concern over the plight faced by underpaid workers at government schools and buildings.

Jaringan Pekerja Kontrak Kerajaan (JPKK), which claims to represent the interest of approximately 400,000 workers, said it sent copies of its memorandum to Pakatan Harapan, BN, Peritakan Nasional (PN) and Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) today.

JPKK national secretary M Sivaranjani when contacted said JPKK's intention is for the political party coalitions to pledge to help the neglected workers and sign an agreement brought by the group.

She said the group would further convey messages to the contract workers so that they would know which political parties would take care of their welfare if they win in GE15.   

"When we arrived at the various party headquarters, we did not see important people. Only the staff of the various parties received us. 

"We notified them on Oct 28, and they should have representatives or important people (assigned to meet us). This has been disappointing.

"Only GTA's Bentong candidate was there and he agreed that the issue should be taken up (by his party)," Sivaranjani said.

"BN was the worst. They did not even send a staff (to meet us). That was the place we waited very long, more than 40 minutes. We kept waiting and at the end, they said nobody was available to come down.

"We had no choice, so we did a live-streaming and left," she said.

Malaysiakini has contacted BN secretary-general Ahmad Maslan for comment.

In its memorandum, JPKK demanded that the workers be paid the minimum wage of RM1,500 a month, which came into effect in May.

"The government should abolish the contract system and establish job security for contract workers by absorbing them as permanent workers at government buildings.

"The contract workers, such as cleaners and security guards, should be recognised as frontline workers. The government should blacklist exploitive contractors for violating the employment law," states the JPKK memorandum that was handed over to all the political parties and coalitions.

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