‘Don’t make empty promises, Najib’
By FMT Staff
KOTA KINABALU: The Human Resource Ministry has come under fire for dragging its feet over the gazetting of the minimal wage system for security guards in Sabah.
Securicor (M) Sdn Bhd Employees Association president Osman Ismail said eventhough the government pledged last year to implement the system by Jan 1, 2011, there has been no news on the matter.
“Many of the security guards are angry, some have even started slacking and want to quit if their wages are not revised soon.
“Our company will be implementing the system soon but other companies out there are still not doing anything.
“Without the gazetting of the minimal wage system in Sabah, there is no compulsion for companies to implement minimum wages,” he said.
Osman said the association had approached the Manpower Department here over the delay in enforcing the system but came up against a stony wall of bureaucracy.
“We received a notice from the department stating that anyone or any company which has not followed the minimal wage system should refer and report to the department.
“But when my deputy Khairol Abu and I went there (Manpower Department) recently, the officer said they too were waiting for further instructions from the Human Resource Ministry,” he said.
Low priority
Fed-up with the ministry’s ‘low priority’ attitude, Osman is now urging Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to keep his word and not to turn this into another election gimmick.
“I again urge the government to look into this matter and take immediate action.
“Please do not make empty promises during elections and then just leave people’s hope hanging after elections,” he said.
Last October, Najib while tabling Budget 2011 said that security guards would be given a minimum monthly salary of between RM500 and RM700 effective January 2011, depending on the state.
