Plantation workers' wage fight goes to court

Plantation workers' wage fight goes to court

KUALA LUMPUR: The dispute over wages and terms and conditions of employment between the Malayan Agriculture Association and National Union of Plantation Workers will be decided in court. This followed the collapse of their 2008-2011 collective agreement negotiation last year.

Union executive secretary A. Navamukundan said the matter was conciliated by the director-general of the Industrial Relations Department and the Human Resources Minister, but a settlement was not possible."The Minister then referred the matter to the Industrial Court," he said.

Hearing on the dispute was fixed for two days since yesterday. A. Ramadas is appearing for the association while Ragunath Kesavan is representing the union. Industrial Court chairman Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah and two panel members last month went on a field visit to the West Estate in Carey Island, Klang.

The collective agreement will decide the benefits of 75,000 plantation workers nationwide like palm oil mill workers, supervisors and loaders. The union, in its proposal, is seeking reforms in the payment system and a quantum of increase that reflected a "living wage" that the government is promoting.

The association, meanwhile, said its salary adjustment and other benefits were based on prevailing economic conditions.

The nst online 5/1/2010.

# MAPA and NUPW renew their tussle every two or three years and will go for another 100 years to come..