Pictorial Animation - Labour Unrest

Attendance Incentive

Numerous industries, especially the manufacturing sector are facing a daily dilemma where employees suddenly don't show-up for work, this incident normally happens after receiving their weekly, or monthly salary, usually on Monday's or Fridays and Saturdays or during public holidays "before or after public holidays". These episodes of frequent absenteeism has resulted in low productivity and increased in cost for the company, such behavior has created a kind of phobia and tremendous pressure on the management as they are unable to cope with the increase number of absenteeism, thus leading to the introduction of incentive schemes laced with conditions which results in the reduction of the incentives - a scheme tailored to inflict psychological maneouvering to defeat employees taking medical leaves or even industrial accident leaves, this schemes amplifies the hidden motive of suppressing and victimizing labour on the maximum scale.

Absenteeism is not an isolated incident and it is very rampant in the industrial sector, where it involves human activity requiring their presence in the plant they suddenly don't turn up and results in disruption in productivity on the respective day, this non-participation on the part of the workers may raised many questions why there is a decline in attendance; is the working environment conducive? What safety? What about the machinery? This prevailing unfavouring conditions may not encourage or induce participation or rather these conditions would eventually continue to discourage the presence of workers and industries which are labour intensive bound to expect such issues of poor attendance by workers.

Companies have devised a plan by introducing incentives schemes like attendance incentive, but with conditions attached to it, for an example, an incentive of RM30.00 a month if full attendance is achieved, if found absent or medical leave even Socso leave, the benefit is withdrawn. This is like hanging a carrot at length from the donkey mouth, termed "carrot and the donkey' as the employer rides on the donkey the carrot swing towards the donkey but it is beastly impossible to catch the carrot because the donkey is moving and in a motion, the donkey never gets its carrot! Similarly, to induce workers with peanuts incentives would never enhance attendance in the work place. 

The employer must ensure a decent wage system, safety and conducive working environment and most importantly tenure and security of employment would enhance participation, the company must treat its employees with respect and provide equal participation this exercise creates a sense of belongings - loyalties towards the company has a price-tag, if you pay peanuts you get monkeys.

Managements must always ask itself why there is absenteeism prevailing in the company? What are the causes for the decline in workers participation, need to look at the high turn-over in the company? What serious measures need to be explored to encourage their involvement, would implementation of punitive exercise to increase workers attendance?  Workers are human being there not a trading commodity for commercial advancement and profiteering for the corporate sector. They deserve respect and treated with dignity.