Workers Picket in Prai over unpaid leave order
About 60 Malaysian workers of the Poly Glass Fibre Manufacturing Sdn Bhd factory in Perai near here staged a peaceful picket today against the alleged decision of the management asking them to take 18 days of unpaid leave from Jan 23 in view of the Chinese New Year to cut the cost of operation.
The workers staged the picket four times between 8am and 7pm so as to enable those on shift duty to join the picket after work.
The executive secretary of the Non-metallic Mineral Products Manufacturing Employees Union, Abdullah Abu Bakar, told reporters the company's action would place a financial burden on the workers who generally earned between RM1,000 and RM1,500 a month.
He claimed that foreign workers of the company were to be allowed to work during that period and that this was unfair as some of the local workers had served for more than 15 years.
He said the company's action went contrary to the provisions of the collective agreement between the employer and workers which required the company to obtain the union's agreement before taking such action.
The management of the company, which produces glasswool and related products, said in a statement the global economic downturn had caused sales to drop and much of the products to remain idle at its warehouse.
It said the company had no choice but to opt for a longer shutdown of the factory and ask the workers to take their annual leave in January and some annual leave and unpaid leave in February.
"The company has also taken several other measures to reduce costs to ensure that it continues to operate so that the workers will not lose their jobs," it said in the statement.
It also said that it was disappointed with a demand by the union for a two-month bonus and a salary increase of 10 per cent at this time of economic uncertainty.
Meanwhile, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Prof P. Ramasamy advised both parties to resolve the problem amicably and stressed the importance of the company saving the jobs of its workers.
"If the situation demands, the company should retrench the foreign workers first," he said - Agencies.
The workers staged the picket four times between 8am and 7pm so as to enable those on shift duty to join the picket after work.
The executive secretary of the Non-metallic Mineral Products Manufacturing Employees Union, Abdullah Abu Bakar, told reporters the company's action would place a financial burden on the workers who generally earned between RM1,000 and RM1,500 a month.
He claimed that foreign workers of the company were to be allowed to work during that period and that this was unfair as some of the local workers had served for more than 15 years.
He said the company's action went contrary to the provisions of the collective agreement between the employer and workers which required the company to obtain the union's agreement before taking such action.
The management of the company, which produces glasswool and related products, said in a statement the global economic downturn had caused sales to drop and much of the products to remain idle at its warehouse.
It said the company had no choice but to opt for a longer shutdown of the factory and ask the workers to take their annual leave in January and some annual leave and unpaid leave in February.
"The company has also taken several other measures to reduce costs to ensure that it continues to operate so that the workers will not lose their jobs," it said in the statement.
It also said that it was disappointed with a demand by the union for a two-month bonus and a salary increase of 10 per cent at this time of economic uncertainty.
Meanwhile, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Prof P. Ramasamy advised both parties to resolve the problem amicably and stressed the importance of the company saving the jobs of its workers.
"If the situation demands, the company should retrench the foreign workers first," he said - Agencies.
