IPOH – Around 100 staff members of Tasek Corporation Bhd, one of the oldest integrated cement plants in Malaysia, picketed in front of their factory at Tasek Industrial Park yesterday.
The picket was due to management refusing to accept a proposed impartial collective agreement (CA) which contains 44 articles.
Peninsula Malaysia Cement Industry Employees Union (CIEU) secretary-general P. Thamotharan said the term of the 17th CA had ended in June 2022, and discussions with the management for the proposed new CA have not been fruitful.
The management has only agreed to 33 of the 44 proposed articles submitted on February 9 and March 19, 2024. Thus, 11 proposals were not accepted despite several meetings and discussions.
“The proposed 11 articles that were not accepted were those related to claims, remuneration for staff according to their expertise, and medical benefits.
“We have also requested the management to review the shift allowance because it has not been reviewed for six years and we are also demanding maternity leave, housing allowance and minimum wage,” he told media yesterday.
Meanwhile, Perak Human Resources, Health, Indian Community Affairs and National Integration Committee chairman A. Sivanesan and Perak Human Resource Department director Muhamad Fauzi Abd Ghani later arrived at the location.
Thamotharan the CIEU was surprised when it was informed that the management had lodged a complaint to the Industrial Department under Section 18 (1) of the Industrial Relations Act 1967 concerning the proposed CA.
Sivanesan who entered the factory’s premises later met with management to find a solution.
He added that during the meeting, they agreed to resume discussions with the union and that both parties would be given two weeks to try and resolve the matter.
“If both parties fail to achieve an agreement within the given time, the Registrar of Societies will take further action. Meanwhile, the union also agreed to end their picketing today (yesterday),” he said.
According to Sivanesan, the management’s reason for refusing the 11 articles was the financial impact on the company if they were accepted, and that the company would not be able to fulfil the obligations. – April 23, 2024