Quit squabbling over workers’ paid leave during MCO - MEF told

CORONAVIRUS | The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has been urged to cease fighting over employers having to pay workers' full salaries during the movement control order (MCO).

The Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC) said such calls by the MEF would transfer risks of businesses to its workers in the face of the coronavirus outbreak.

Instead, the LLRC called on the MEF to support the government's efforts in helping the country mitigate the effects of the crisis.

“Yesterday, the MEF warned the government that companies could go bust because employers have to pay workers’ full salaries when there is zero business. Previously, MEF had suggested workers should instead take unpaid leave and annual leave during the lockdown.

“Such argument is akin to demanding the government to guarantee non-risk and profitable businesses for employers and transfer capital owners’ burdens to impoverished workers, ignoring the norms of the business world that there is always a risk while venturing into business, including international factors such as the outbreak of a pandemic,” said LLRC co-chairpersons Gopal Kishnam (below) and Irene Xavier.

Alleging that Malaysian workers have been exploited by capital owners for “decades”, the duo said employers should now share enterprise profit with workers as a form of compensation during the current hardship.

“LLRC urges MEF to stop squabbling over workers’ paid leave during the period of MCO and wholeheartedly support the government’s effort to mitigate the health crisis.”

However, the coalition calls on the government to create policies to help small, medium and micro businesses that may face difficulties during the MCO to retain its workforce, and to allow the formations of trade unions in all workplaces.

“We wish to remind MEF and the government that the absence of a free collective bargaining system between trade unions and employers due to extreme low union density of six percent has exacerbated the labour-capital relationship in the time of crisis.

“We call on the government and MEF to allow trade union to be formed at every workplace, so workers can negotiate with employers regularly to arrive at amicably win-win solutions,” it said.

The MCO came into effect on March 18 and was to have ended on March 31. However, in light of the rising number of cases, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today announced a further two-week extension until April 14. - Mkini