SERDANG: The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) has urged the government to revise the annual salary increments which it has described as being ‘too small’.
The congress’ finance secretary Mohd Razali Singah said the increment of between RM95 and RM100 annually was insufficient and resulted in a majority of civil servants trapped in the B40 and M40 categories.
Almost one million civil servants nationwide, he said, were still marginalised despite their salaries being increased under the current system.
“There is a need (for the government to review) the current salary of civil servants which is too small.
“They will continue to become marginalised if the government continues to adopt the current system.
“There is a need to change the current policy by reviewing the annual salary increment which reflects the cost of living,” said Razali, who is Universiti Putra Malaysia General Staff Union (Kepertama) president.
He said an increment of RM200 annually was more appropriate considering the existing cost of living.
Razali, who is one of five candidates vying the Cuepacs president’s post for the 2019-2022 term, also reiterated the call by the congress to maintain the pension scheme for civil servants under permanent employment.
“I will do my best to defend the pension scheme including those involving new employment,” he said, adding that this was one of his five pledges in his manifesto.
Apart from Razali, other candidates vying for the post include the current Cuepacs secretary-general Adnan Mat, who is also the Amalgamated National Union of Local Authorities Employees (ANULAE) deputy president, Peninsular Malaysia Malay Forestry Officers Union president Datuk Ahmad Shuffir Zakaria, Peninsular Malaysia Customs Officers Union president Abdul Malik Mohamed Zin and Perak Water Board Union president Zainal Ismail.
The congress’ 28th three-day triennial convention will be held from Tuesday till Thursday at the Shah Alam Convention Centre.