Wednesday, 10 August 2011

Half-a-month bonus a pittance even for low income earners: unions



Aug 10: The half-month Hari Raya bonus for 1.3 million civil servants and RM500 to 600,000 government pensioners announced by prime minister Najib Razak is not enough, said union activists.

Saying the announcement was "too general", trade union activist Syed Shahir Syed Mohamad (pic) said those earning RM1,500 and below had been expecting more.

"The lower income group, those with RM1,000 salary, will get RM500. So can the amount bring cheer to their families for the Hari Raya?” asked the former president of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress when contacted by Harakahdaily.

Earlier, Najib said the payout was the government's appreciation to civil servants as well as to "lighten their burden", in an annoucement which observers say is an indirect admission of rising inflation and wealth gap among people.

Shahir however said the amount was just not enough to cushion the sharp increase in living costs.

Meanwhile, Congress of Unions of Employees (Ceupacs) has called on the government to consider two months' bonus to civil servants.

Its president Omar Osman, saying the request was being made through a letter to the PM, expressed hope that the government would give one month bonus both before and after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.


Taken from Harakah

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