Forum on poverty highlights issues made worse by Covid-19 pandemic

 

On the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty which is observed on Oct 17, a coalition of grassroots movements came together to speak on related issues which have since been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The group Gabungan Marhaen largely represents disenfranchised Malaysians from the B40 and B20 segments of the economy, the latter being the lowest category of income earners.

Starting from Oct 12, the Himpunan Marhaen series of online events culminated today with final discussions on issues affecting informal workers, contract workers, Orang Asli, low-income prospective homeowners and those working in the agricultural sector.

On the surface, a common factor shared across the different sectors revolve around land or property ownership and low income, further affected by Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

PSM central committee member Karthi Lenin, who spoke about long-standing demands for affordable and liveable housing, said the current national minimum wage of RM1,200 will only allow a person to take out up to RM70,000 in housing loan.

"But where do we see these houses at RM70,000?" he asked.

Karthi said the government should build more People's Public Housing Project to be rented to those from the B20 segment and offered based on a "rent-to-own" scheme for others in the B40 category.

"Many in the B40 group could not afford to service a housing loan and so rent-to-own would be the only way for them to eventually own a house," he added.

Alternatively, Karthi said the government could set up a trust fund to build affordable homes that could only be sold and bought through the trust, ensuring a constant supply of affordable properties outside of the real market.

He also raised the issue of forced demolition of early settlements on government land, a problem echoed by Orang Asli activist Tijah Yok Chopil and PSM's R Gandi, representing vegetable farmers, rice farmers, animal farms owners and fishermen.

Tijah said the issue of Orang Asli land ownership often revolved around villages on government land not gazetted under the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954.

She said any negotiations for projects on the land would often only involve a village chief and the Orang Asli Development Department, leaving little room for any opposition or negotiations.

"If the land is government land then sometimes they will only compensate for the plants grown on it, and that too is not guaranteed," added the Orang Asli Villages Network chairperson.

She said the federal government through Jakoa, state agencies in charge of land matters, and NGOs must work together towards resolving the issue.

Unfavourable working terms

Speaking on behalf of contract security guards and cleaners at government facilities, Husin Mohamad said the Covid-19 pandemic had made worse already unfavourable working terms and conditions.

With 11 years of experience as a security guard, Husin said he did not receive benefits due to him being a senior worker as his contract was terminated every three years.

"By right after three years I was supposed to be allocated 12 annual leave days.

"But I had to sign a brand new contract that resets the leave days to back to six," he said.

In urging the government to review the system of outsourcing its security and cleaning services to third-party companies, Husin said workers in the sector were exposed to risks of job instability and infringement of their basic rights.

Similarly, a representative of informal workers, Harith Faizal, said the segment identified by a Labour Department survey to make up 18 percent of the workforce were largely left unprotected by any form of social security.

These include social security contributions, workers' insurance and compliance to minimum wage.

He said informal workers not only comprise domestic work but also other service providers such as e-hailing and p-hailing drivers, two growing job segments since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Himpunan Marhaen series will culminate tonight with a special virtual concert by selected local artists. - Mkini