KUALA LUMPUR – Labour unions have come together to laud Human Resources Minister Steven Sim for his role in securing Hari Raya assistance for bank employees, despite criticism from the National Union of Bank Employees (Nube).
Sarawak Bank Employees’ Union chief executive Andre Lo, expressed gratitude towards the Sarawak Commercial Bank Association (SCBA) and its member banks, as well as Sim, for their commitment to improving workers’ conditions.
In a statement, Lo said this comes after the SCBA and the Sarawak Bank Employees Union (SBEU) reached an agreement on the matter, guaranteeing bank workers – regardless of their religious affiliation – will receive Hari Raya aid for 2024.
The Union Network International-Malaysia Labour Centre (UNI-MLC) also commended Sim for his role in facilitating the festival payment agreement.
UNI-MLC president Datuk Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal welcomed the decision to provide festival assistance to bank employees, saying it fostered positive employer-employee relations.
“This is a positive development that reflects a significant step towards enhancing the welfare of workers nationwide.”
The announcement comes on the heels of reports indicating that many banks have initiated the disbursement of festival assistance, equating to one month’s salary for non-executive employees and 0.5 months’ salary for executives and special grades.
This move follows discussions between the bank management and Sim, who has expressed commitment to workers’ welfare since his appointment in December last year.
Shafie also emphasised the pivotal role played by Sim in resolving the deadlock surrounding festival payments.
“The minister’s intervention has not only brought about a resolution but also underscored the importance of advocating for workers’ interests,” Shafie said.
UNI-MLC expressed optimism that the festival payments would serve as a morale booster for bank employees as they approach the Aidilfitri celebrations next week.
However, amidst the celebrations, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) emphasised the need for a long-term solution to address systemic issues concerning workers’ rights.
“While the bonus brings immediate relief and joy to employees, it’s imperative to continue working towards sustainable benefits and fair treatment,” MTUC president Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani said in a statement.
“We commend minister Steven Sim for his steadfast commitment to social justice and urge both employers and unions to prioritise ongoing dialogue and collaboration.”
However, Nube had earlier alleged discrepancies in the distribution of the “one-off Ex-Gratia Festival Payment 2024.”
Nube, in a blog post recently, claimed more than 90% of members received only 50% of the festival aid and raised questions about fairness and equality. – April 4, 2024