Posted on 10 February 2014 - 05:24am
Last updated on 10 February 2014 - 09:21am
Annie Freeda Cruez
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 10, 2014): The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) yesterday called for a monthly RM300 cost of living allowance (Cola ) for private sector employees to meet rising costs.
Its president Mohd Khalid Atan said a memorandum on the matter will be submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem soon.
He told theSun that there is a need for such a policy in the private sector, which had been hit by rising costs.
"It's difficult to survive on just the RM900 minimum wage," he said after chairing a general council meeting.
He said employers should find a win-win situation to pay employees Cola either in cash, housing or allowances for food.
"While this move will go a long way to help workers, they on the other hand, will contribute by increasing productivity to benefit employers," he said, adding that the meeting also unanimously decided to set up a special consumer committee to research prices and the cost of living.
"We intend to do this by going nationwide to get feedback from workers. We will also go to the ground to check on prices. The findings will be submitted to the government to show the implications of higher prices on workers and consumers," he said.
He said MTUC opposed the planned 2015 introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as it appeared that "everyone will be imposing the tax".
"This will affect those in the low income group and workers in general," he added.
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