Workers' union urges govt to review GLC pension rates

 

Putrajaya should review the pension rates for retirees from government-linked companies (GLCs), urged a workers' union.

The Union Network International - Malaysia Labour Centre (UNI-MLC) claimed that the group has long been left out of the government's annual budgets.

It said that many of GLC retirees today were the ones who supported Malaysia's privatisation policy.

However, according to UNI-MLC, these retirees only received a small pension, with some getting as little as RM180 a month.

"GLC retirees from Telekom Malaysia Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Keretapi Tanah Melayu, Pos Malaysia Berhad, North Port, PLUS, Malaysia Airport and several other agencies, which were privatised in the early 1980s and 1990s, are disappointed with the Budget 2021, which does not take into account their wish," said UNI-MLC president Mohamed Shafie Mammal in a statement today.

"These retirees back then earned a minimal salary, and some of them retired after less than 25 years of service, and the pension they are receiving today is so low that some only get RM180 a month.

"Looking at the current situation, with a very high cost of living, it is very hard for these retirees to make ends meet not only for themselves but also for their families," he added.

Shafie said the union had submitted 10 memorandums to the government over the past 20 years with the hopes that the pensioners' wishes would be heard and addressed.

Among the memorandums includes a request for the low pension issue to be addressed in the government's Budget 2021.

"We sent the request based on the government's words that no one would be left behind in Budget 2021. However, the budget did not have anything that addresses the low rate of pension," he said.

Shafie said they hope that the government would consider their request and include the matter in the budget for next year.

UNI-MLC serves as an umbrella organisation for all GLC workers' unions. - Mkini