JUNE 29 — The Malaysian government has clearly violated the International Labour Organisation’s Global Job Pact, which was signed in 2009 by allowing Alliance Bank Malaysia to forcefully implement the Voluntary Separation Scheme recently

In the June 2009 International Labour Conference, with the participation of government, employers’ and workers’ delegates from the ILO’s member States (which Malaysia is member of), unanimously adopted a “Global Jobs Pact”.

The Global Jobs Pact is a set of balanced and realistic policy measures that countries, can adopt to generate sustainable and long-term jobs.

The pact is aimed at generating employment, extending social protection, respecting labour standards, promoting social dialogue and shaping fair globalization.

In short, the ‘Pact’ is about creating, promoting employment and protecting people, about responding to both the people’s agenda and the needs of the real economy.

Malaysia on the other hand, not adversely affected by the financial crisis, has a steady economy and a low unemployment figure, is moving in the opposite direction.

Alliance Bank’s witch-hunt

With a recent witch-hunt targeting clerical workers within the banking sector with the issuance of VSS (Voluntary Separation Scheme) and wrongful dismissals, there seems to be an effort to annihilate clerical jobs and unionists.

A perfect example would be Alliance bank’s efforts to roll out VSS’s subsequently eliminating a huge portion of their workforce. They have resorted to this even after several profitable financial quarters.

In an obvious move to increase profits, they cut cost by dismissing their lower income earners at then bank, while the upper management bags filthy bonuses.

The banks seem oblivious to the consequences of their actions, haven’t they not learnt anything from their European counterparts? By allowing technology and the greed for enormous profits overpower the universal goal of increasing Malaysia’s standard of living.

Do not misinterpret us of for Luddites, we welcome the use of high end technology in banking, but we hope proper training and an effective transition plan is made for clerks to upgrade their work skills while maintaining their jobs.

Europe is taking the Lead

The 2008 global financial crisis has handicapped the global economy; the economic recovery would be described as sluggish at best. Many are still without proper work, their capacity to support their families have diminished. For them, the crisis is far from over.

According to the International Labour Organization the Globally in 2013 unemployment is at an all time high of 200 million.  The unemployment grew by 4.2 million last year and is expected to increase by another 5 million by year-end.

Europe has taken notice of this, and is re-examining their social, political and economic landscape. With unemployment at record highs in Europe, Europe is focused on job creation by creating more clerical jobs and setting up various protection measures to prevent outsourcing.

Banking in Europe are returning from a profit-based sector to a service-based sector, by creating more clerical jobs.

Why we need to stick to the global jobs pact?

There is no point of Malaysia being a signatory member state of the ILO, if we are not going to adhere to international labour standards.

Officials from the Malaysian government have been attending the ILO conference every year, but their presence has been proven to be insignificant as there has been no change or social dialogue.

On the contrary, Bank Negara Malaysia has sanctioned the VSS by Alliance Bank without adopting to the “Pact”. In fact, numerous letters and emails have been sent to the Governor of Bank Negara on this matter but regrettably there has been no response.  

* J. Solomon in honorary general-secretary of the National Union of Bank Employees.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.