PSM urges the Government to ensure the welfare of around 200,000 cleaners, security guards, and gardeners in government schools, hospitals, health, and education institutions by granting them the same minimum wage as the lowest-paid government workers, which is RM 2,000. On May 1st, the Prime Minister announced that the total income for civil servants on the lowest salary scale would increase to a minimum of RM 2,000 per month, up from the previous RM 1,795 per month.
These cleaners and security guards, who work in government premises, had their rights taken from them when the government pursued privatization policies in 1996 and 1997 under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, with Anwar Ibrahim serving as the Finance Minister.
Currently, there are nearly 100,000 B40 contract workers in the 160 government hospitals. Similarly, there are 42,693 security guards working across 10,961 government premises, and another 45,411 cleaners working in educational institutions, including mostly government schools. Altogether, there are approximately 200,000 contract workers in government hospitals and schools, serving as security guards or cleaners.
This essential workforce, responsible for keeping our hospitals and schools clean and safe, has been denied a decent minimum wage. They lack job security and are denied all the benefits that government workers enjoy, despite the fact that the nature of their jobs is also permanent.
In August 2024, PKR’s remaining reformist MP, Hassan Karim, urged the Human Resource Minister not to neglect the welfare of these contract workers, stating that they have been exploited by contractors appointed by the government.
Another common issue is that whenever the minimum wage is increased, these workers often do not receive it immediately. Contractors typically claim that the government has not paid them, causing the workers to receive their minimum wage much later, or in some cases, be denied it altogether.
PSM and Jaringan Pekerja Kontrak Kerajaan (JPKK) have been fighting for these workers to be absorbed as government employees. Even if that is not currently possible, the Human Resource Minister can ask the government to ensure that these workers are paid the same minimum wage as government workers, since the government is ultimately responsible for their pay.
S. Arutchelvan
Deputy Chairperson
Parti Sosialis Malaysia