1,000 Proton staff protest over pay increase

Some 1,000 workers of national car manufacturer Proton in Tanjung Malim and Shah Alam launched a protest this afternoon, over the minimal increase in wages to existing workers who were previously paid between RM901 and RM1,200, and who only saw a four percent increase.

The protest in Tanjung Malim, which began at 5.30pm and ended an hour later, follows the implementation of the minimum wage policy beginning in January.

Tanjung Malim Proton Workers Union deputy president Azmi Jamaluddin said previously, the lower level workers were receiving RM600 wages, but now they are getting a RM300 increase following the minimum wage.

“However, those who have been getting RM901 to RM1,200 have only been given a four percent increase. This represents only a minimal increase of RM36 to RM40, which is not much,” he toldMalaysiakini.

Hence, today’s protest is to seek an explanation from their employer.

The union in a letter dated Jan 17 states that those getting RM600 will now be getting RM900 and besides this, those who have monthly wages of RM1,201 and above are given a one-off payment.

The letter signed by union secretary Mohd Zaki Hairan states that negotiations began in November but there are no signs of a solution being found. 

In a statement, Proton Tanjung Malim Workers Union president Zainudin Dollah said the workers are seeking a restructuring of the wages for those between RM901 to RM1,200 to seek an increase comparable to that received by those getting a raise from RM600 to RM900.

They are also seeking the continued implementation of the existing benefits.

Meanwhile, Peninsular Malaysia Electronic Workers' Union (Western Region) president Wan Noorulazhar Mohd Hanafiah said 700 workers gathered beside the Shah Alam Proton factory to demand salary adjustments following the implementation of the minimum wage.

He said the crowd gathering beginning at 5.30pm near the plant was led by Selangor and Federal Territories Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) chairperson N Gopalkrishnan.

Protest in Muar

Meanwhile, according to China Press, about 500 foreign workers of a furniture factory in Muar staged a strike today against their employer for refusing to implement the minimum wage policy.
 
The employees, comprising of Nepalese and Bangladeshis, had found out that their employee was still following the old salary system yesterday afternoon and was  not paying them their full salary of RM900. 

Following this, they decided to call their countrymen to hold a strike, vowing not compromise with their employer.
 
In another development, Malaysian Furniture Industry Council president Sunny Ter led 50 members to lodge a police report at the Kapar police station, Klang asking the authorities to enhance their patrols during Chinese New Year.
 
Ter said this is to prevent the foreign workers from causing trouble during the festive season as a result of the non-compliance of the policy by his members.