https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/329345
COMMENT Thousands of employees were terminated in August and December last year by MAS and Khazanah Nasional and most are worried about their livelihood in the years ahead. Many innocent children are also suffering since their parents lost their jobs in MAS. What MAS did was simply unacceptable. Most of the ex-employees said that the termination payouts were unfair and ruthless. Many, who have received as low as RM5,000, claim their payouts have dried up. Many are suffering from endless financial problems now. Some had to mortgage their homes or sell their personal properties to pay off debts to the banks. Life for these people has become far worse since they were terminated. Was it really a luxurious offer made to all employees as claimed? The answer is that only when these people speak up will the world know. So what did the government do to help them? Nothing much really. Although lots of promises were made before they were terminated, nothing was in fact made good for the thousands of these ex-employees, except that call centres were set up for proposals of work in other companies. Thousands are still jobless as they claimed the companies did not offer what they received with MAS. Many were even offered less than half the salaries these people received in MAS. The union was also informed that many are feeling frustrated with the government's failure to keep up their end. Everything was left for the employees to do and they had to run all over to get things fixed by themselves. There was nothing to assure them of their welfare once they left MAS. Sadly, the reality is setting in today. When the union raised the issues, these claims were shot down. Letters to the respective ministers flew all sides for months but without much positive response as always. Perhaps these are tactics to demoralise unions and also avoid answering hard questions. Turn for the worse After years of dedicated service to the airline, many of these employees find their lives have taken a turn for the worse. Many of them complain jobs are hard to find due to the economic slowdown and many were turned away due to age. Even banks are not forgiving as many are chasing these ex-employees for overdue payments despite knowing they had lost their jobs with MAS. Why wasn't there a buffer arrangement with the banks as proposed to the government by the union? The amount of payoffs these ex-employees received was not enough to pay off their car loans and other debts. Many are soon to be declared bankrupt too. Are the ministers awake now? Justice and protection as promised for these ex-employees by the government are now long forgotten. What form of measures did the government take to address the high unemployment and assist those who have lost their jobs in this country? After months of appealing, meetings, arguments and highlighting these problems with the authorities over what these ex-employees are facing, nothing much has been done. Perhaps they are just not bothered or too busy with other matters than to resolve these people's issues. All that was important was that the national airline succeeds in its plans to get rid of the huge numbers of employees in MAS. Nothing was offered to the employees other than just payouts. There were still vacancies, appointments and promotions after the airline got rid of employees. So, what was the idea of trimming the airline down? Many of the current employees will be affected in the next termination wave in March and June. The bitter pill which they will have to swallow is just days ahead of them. Can these employees survive through this ordeal, which others have gone through? The national union wants these issues to be addressed and resolved quickly as more pain and problems lie ahead if these issues are not settled. Perhaps the issue of unemployment in MAS is not a big deal but we believe these problems are adding more burden and sufferings of innocent working Malaysians as a whole. Unemployment issues have always been of national interest for unions. That’s why we keep harping on these issues. Employees have always become victims to poor decisions and irregular employment policies which seem to favour powerful corporate figures and not the innocent workers in Malaysia. Review labour policies There is a serious need to review labour policies and regulations in order to protect the interest of the workers in this country. There are serious conflicts and unresolved arguments which seem never to favour employees. The decisions made by the government to rescue MAS were too hasty and only benefited the airline's shareholders rather than those who had actually worked hard for the company. Some in the airline management team who had failed in preserving the airline profits were promoted to higher positions. Were these really great decisions? Who is actually protecting the innocent employees then if everyone is over-protective of the employers? The airline is also being supported for going against the union and slowing union activities in the airline. The airline has formed an in-house work committee which has no locus standi to represent the employees. MAB (Malaysia Airlines Bhd) has rejected workers' representation by unions but claim to look after the welfare of its employees. In the reality of corporate business ethics, the heads of the company should roll first. They should have voluntarily resigned for failing to make profits for the company. That should be the right decision to enforce on MAS management and not force lower-ranked employees out of jobs. They should also offer employees leave or cut down work schedules if they wish to reduce costs - not maintain salaries of top management. But will all that bring MAB to a better financial position while knowing its expenditure is still beyond control? The critics who once claimed ex-MAS employees would be happy with the termination payouts are also obviously missing the real issues and stories. Many of these writers are now completely silent on the real situation faced by the thousands of these ex-MAS employees. Nothing is written anywhere of the difficulties these ex-employees are facing. Why aren’t they writing the truth? We wonder where are the few who once defended the moves made by Khazanah Nasional and MAS. Why don't they come forward today and ask the employees of what life after MAS is instead? Once all these negatives add up, someone will eventually wake up later to say, "Oops, we realise we have actually made wrong move...". Life is not all that rosy after MAS.
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Post time 4-2-2016 01:27 PM
变色卡
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