MTUC backs Nube picket, slams vast wage gap between CEO and workers

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has rallied behind the picket led by the National Union of Bank Employees (Nube), stating that the bold stand will become a decisive and advantageous turning point for all involved.

In a statement, MTUC secretary-general Kamarul Baharin emphasised that Nube’s actions over the past two weeks are an assertion of their right to champion the just welfare and benefits owed to employees.

"MTUC is deeply shocked by the chief executive officer’s (CEO) annual salary, which reaches millions of ringgit. The vast salary gap between B40 employees and the CEO is like heaven and earth, creating a stark divide between two distinct classes.

“The ultra-wealthy class will continuously oppress common workers, leading to unrest, dissatisfaction, and frustration among B40 employees,” Kamarul said.

On July 21, Nube announced it would launch nationwide pickets to protest the “increasingly outrageous” ways bank CEOs are engaging in union-busting.

Nube claimed that bank CEOs are denying their workers several rights, including work-life balance and job security.

Therefore, Kamarul called on the human resources minister to intervene and urged bank management to engage in social dialogue with Nube.

He stressed that the government, particularly the Human Resources Ministry, should pressure banks to ensure this dialogue occurs.

‘Where is the compassion?’

Additionally, Kamarul advocated for investigations and audits of government-linked companies and government-linked investment companies that pay their CEOs hundreds of thousands of ringgit, leading to a salary gap that exceeds 100 times that of lower-level employees.

“These ultra-wealthy CEOs must not be allowed to continue oppressing B40 workers.

“Where is the compassion for lower-level employees who only hope for modest employment benefits compared to CEOs? Embrace the Madani concept promoted by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for the welfare of the working class,” he added.

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