Hospital Bahagia Cleaners Picket For Equal Increment Better Benefits

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A group of 40 contract hospital cleaners assigned to work at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Ipoh, today held a picket outside the psychiatric facility with several demands, including an equal RM30 salary increase.
National Union of Workers in Hospitals Support and Allied Services executive secretary M Sarasvathy said the problems started after the cleaning contract for government hospitals in Perak, Penang, Kedah and Perlis were taken over by Edgenta UEMS - a subsidiary of government-linked corporation UEM Edgenta - on Jan 1 last year.
Top of their list of demands was for all workers to be given the RM30 increment paid since July, instead of just a select few who passed their evaluation.
"The new salary is RM1,230 but 90 percent of the contract cleaners did not get their increments.
"UEMS could certainly afford to give this small RM30 increment to all workers," Sarasvathy said in a statement.
She said the workers also demanded the restoration of their previous public holidays and medical allowance benefits, which were allegedly reduced from 15 days to 11 days, and from RM1,000 to RM200.

M Sarasvathy
The workers who gathered at the site were seen carrying placards with their demands, which also included a Covid-19 work hazard pay, new uniforms and RM700 as one-off compensation.
Known as the country's largest psychiatric facility, it is understood Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta is also involved in admitting Covid-19 patients.
Sarasvathy earlier led the workers, who picketed for about 20 minutes before dispersing peacefully at close to 4pm.
"Holding a picket is our right under the Trade Union Act 1959. This is a problem between workers and employers.
"Today we followed the orders from the police, but this matter will not end here," Sarasvathy said.
Earlier, the PSM committee member told Malaysiakini she was contacted by police from the Ipoh district police station who inquired about the picket and whether the union will be joined by other NGOs.
Malaysiakini has contacted Edgenta UEMS for its response to the workers' demands. - Mkini

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