GLC workers frustrated over inaction - Malay Mail 17 January 2012

KUALA LUMPUR: Two years after handing over four resolutions to the government, the Congress of Unions in Government-Linked Companies (GLC) is frustrated that no action has been taken.

On Jan 6, 2010, the congress, which has 400,000 members, handed over the resolutions to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at his office in Putrajaya.

Its president, Mohamed Shafie B.P Mammal, said it was important for the government to consider the resolutions.

“We had a one-hour chat with Najib after presenting him the resolutions and briefing him on the reasons for them,” he told a press conference at the Tenaga Nasional Bhd Joint Employees Union headquarters yesterday.

“Our objective was to raise our frustrations on the lack of concern for the welfare of our members and our members’ feeling that they are not being offered better terms and conditions in their employment.”

The resolutions proposed:

• an extension of retirement age from 55 to 60;
• review and upgrade of the pension formula for pensioners from GLCs who opted for privatisation;
• the frequent restructuring realignment and reorganisation of GLCs; and
• the frequent changes in the chief executive officer’s (CEO) position in some GLCs.

Mohamed Shafie said the congress would send an official letter again to Najib this week, whilst also inviting him to take part in its special assembly on Feb 11 in Kuala Lumpur.

Explaining the resolutions, he said the first would contribute positively towards the nation’s progress and development.

“The government announced the retirement age in the public service sector has been revised to 60 and we urge the government to implement the same for GLCs.

“We know the government, as the majority shareholder of GLC companies, has a right to direct and the GLCs have to comply,” he said, adding they will also make an appeal to review and upgrade the pension formula for GLC staff.

“More than 400,000 existing workers and retired workers from 80 GLCs including KTMB Berhad and Tenaga Nasional Berhad are frustrated they were left out in the recent adjustment.

“Civil service pensioners receive the benefit while those who receive a very small pension were upgraded to receive a minimum level of RM720 in pension.

“The fact is we have 50,000 ex-GLC workers receiving below RM500 as pension,” Mohamed Shafie said.

He claims several thousand members receive less than RM130 — below the poverty line.

The third resolution, Mohamed Shafie said, will prevent management from making unnecessary restructuring and changes to the company business strategy.

“We are disappointed that the ideas and suggestions from long-serving staff are not accepted by the young, inexperienced managers,” he said. Mohamed Shafie noted frequent changes in CEOs in some GLCs.

“Some of the new CEOs do not care to consult the existing senior management staff but appoint their own team members to strategic positions.

“Imagine the existing staff being overlooked while the new ones are paid exorbitant salaries and given huge perks.

“The employees are burdened with new instructions and plans which look good on paper but not practical when compared to what the competition is doing,” he said, urging the government to look into it.