EPF workers union on protest campaign against 'tyrannical' management

 

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Board Staff Union has embarked on a protest campaign against the EPF management over problems faced by the fund's employees.

Union president Ahmad Hamzah said the protest will see EPF staff wearing button badges that say "tyrannical EPF management" from Aug 9 to 16 at all EPF locations nationwide.

"The union urges EPF contributors to show their solidarity with EPF workers to continue their fight."

According to Ahmad, the EPF presidential council - which comprises the EPF board staff union, Sabah EPF members trade union, and Sarawak EPF members trade union - had on numerous occasions met with the management to present the union's demands.

"These include wage balancing, salary adjustment, standardisation of terms and conditions of service, retirement benefits, regional allowance, cross-selling, bonus, objection to the establishment of the management discipline committee, filling the position of Sabah regional director, and the addition of the union's annual grant.

"The union has sent a proposal to the management but unfortunately, there has been no counter proposal from them. The reluctance of the management to discuss and give suggestions causes a difference of interests," he said in a statement today.

Therefore, as a body that represents EPF workers, it is appropriate for the union to act against the management for not paying attention to the workers' needs, Ahmad added.

"The union understands the impact of this action but the management ignored the suggestions and ignored subordinates' claims.

"The union will continue to remind its members to maintain their integrity and prioritise contributors to enable their retirement savings to be looked after."

‘Pay gap cancer’

Ahmad stressed that the protest decision was taken in the interests of EPF workers, and there are no personal interests at play.

"The pay gap between the management and the subordinates is huge. This creates a self-made caste and has become a cancer that hurts the employees.

"The majority of employees have been serving in EPF for more than 30 years, so their sacrifice and loyalty cannot be questioned or disputed by the management, made up of new members,” he said.

The union urged the prime minister to intervene in the matter.

“The union has confidence and trusts the prime minister to be the middle person to find a solution,” Ahmad added. - Mkini