KUALA LUMPUR: The Union Network International – Malaysia Labour Centre (UNI-MLC) has urged the government to consider making changes to the pension rates for former civil servants in government link companies (GLCs).
Its president Datuk Mohamed Shafie Mammal, said at the moment, about 200,000 of the GLCs' retirees have been getting pension payment from as low as RM150 per month.
He said the rate received is below the national poverty line.
“Some of the pensioners receive a pension as low as RM150, RM200 and RM300 per month.
“With the rising cost of living, these are insufficient to cover expenses, not only for the themselves but also their families,” he said.
Shafie said these former civil servants were part of the government's privatisation programme introduced in the mid 1980s.
“The unions in the GLCs strongly feel that the government has the duty to improve the well-being of all and in particular those living below the poverty line.“
"The value of RM150 to RM350 pensions paid in 1985 is not the same as today,"
“These pensioners are hoping for an urgent intervention from the government to help ease their burden,” he said.
UNI-MLC claimed it has submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak seeking his help on the issue.
A letter has also been sent to Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa last year for an opportunity to meet up and discuss the matter.