No pay for four months, timber workers picket

Andrew Ong
Dec 22, 05 5:03pm

After four months without their salaries being paid, about 200 employees of CHG Plywood Sdn Bhd picketed in front of their factory in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur this morning to highlight their grouses.

The workers, many of whom are sole breadwinners, are struggling with their daily expenses and some have run deep into debt with rental and utility bills being unpaid for several months.

During this morning picket, the workers unfurled banners and chanted slogans for 45 minutes. Two more pickets are scheduled for their afternoon and evening breaks.

Timber Employees Union Peninsular Malaysia (TEUPM) general secretary Mohd Khalid Haji Atan, who was present, claimed the workers were not paid since August and were made to work overtime.

He also said the company was able to pay off other debts as well as temporary foreign workers during the past four months.

Negotiations between TEUPM and CHG Plywood resulted in the factory only willing to pay a half months salary by the end of this month.

How can they only pay half month? Some of these workers only receive RM600. Furthermore, when school reopens they will be driven further in debt, said Khalid adding that the factory claimed that it could not afford to pay the salaries.

Contract breached

He said the picket was in accordance with the Industrial Relations Act, adding that it could escalate into a strike should the company fail to respond positively to their requests. A report on the matter would be filed by the union with the relevant authorities soon.

The contract of service has been broken. According to the law, if a company fails to pay wages within seven days they need to get permission from the Labour Office (to delay payment),said Khalid.

Khalid, who is also the vice-president of Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) did not rule out the possibility of the union taking the company to court on behalf of the factory workers.