A group of estate workers are urging the Malaysian Agriculture Producers Association (Mapa) to reveal the findings of a study conducted by a local university on the minimum monthly wage issue.

They claim that the research had probably proposed a higher basic pay than the RM325 agreed between the National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW) and Mapa yesterday. ([#1] Minimum wage deal for estate workers signed [/#] Feb 7).

Estate Workers Support Committee spokesperson S Arutchelvan today told malaysiakini that details of the study carried out last year by Universiti Malaya's economics faculty have never been made known to the public.

"What is so secret about the research? We suspect that the research proposed a higher basic monthly minimum wage for estate workers than the amount that was agreed to in the collective agreement signed yesterday," he said.

The "ground-breaking" agreement, which will affect about 45,000 workers in the oil palm sector, was witnessed by Human Resources Minister Dr Fong Chan Onn at his ministry in Jalan Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.

While it ended months of negotiation between NUPW and Mapa, the matter had also been referred to the Industrial Court which was supposed to hear the case in Kuala Lumpur today.

The case was, however, postponed to tomorrow and representatives from the two parties will apply for a consent award from the court.

ESWC members were scheduled to demonstrate outside the Industrial Court today but called off the protest after hearing news of the new deal.

'RM325 ridiculous'

Although the group welcomed the new deal, they were unhappy with the basic pay offered by Mapa, claiming that their proposed sum was RM750.

"We have struggled for so long and to finally get only RM325 is ridiculous," said Arutchelvan.

"We also haven't seen the agreement and do not know the other terms of agreement," he added.

Arutchelvan said that estate workers were ambivalent about the deal because a similar agreement made in 1990 was not honoured.

No difference

Arutchelvan said he was also sceptical about the stipulation in the agreement that workers are entitled to a monthly minimum wage as long as they go to work and carry out duties assigned to them.

"Does this mean that workers will not be paid for days that they do not turn up for work?" he asked.

"Then what is the difference between the situation now (with the agreement) and then when workers were paid daily wages?"

Estate workers used to be paid according to a piece-rate system for 26 days a month. They are not paid if they do not turn up for work, as is wont to happen when bad weather prevails.

Arutchelvan said that a monthly wage for workers would mean that wages are guaranteed for the month even if workers do not turn up and they would be entitled to annual leave, public holidays and medical leave.

Yesterday, NUPW executive secretary A Navamukundum said that the collective agreement will be available in two to three weeks' time.

He said the agreement has to be stamped first by the industrial court it can be made public.

Mapa officials were not available for comment.

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