Every year without failure we organised activities to give recognition to the workers both local and at the international level in conjunction with Labour Day Celebration, these labour day celebrations were conducted to assemble the vast majority of workers inclusive of migrant labour. Workers, who wake up in the wee-hours of the morning, at times without breakfast rushing to the factory and work eight hours everyday or sometimes putting in extra-hours 365 days in a year just to bring food on the family table, so that no one is staved to death. Yet, such work and service rendered to the respective companies are nor appreciated nor given recognition, alternatively, rather rewarded with a show-cause letter and subjected them to disciplinary and punitive measures, apparently leading to termination without any compensation.The management in return expects respects and obedience
from workers to be thankful towards them for offering employment - workers as they are, never questioned their employer/s as they feel that they are indebted to their employers and choose not to question any in adequacy or discremination in favour of employment.
Workers live is supposedly tied up like a merry-go-round, day in day out we work around the clock for a merge wages which could not measure up with the daily basic needs, like food, shelter and medicine, and leisure is a remote dream, even to have a family vacation seems impossible. Even if AirAsia were to advertise that 'Everyone Can Fly Now!
Employers, having anticipated such development within the workers in the long run have div iced a plan not to increase wages as this exercise may impede their profits and result in lower dividend for its share holders. The introduction of the credit-card system is one approach systematically designed to provide financial support in time of financial constrains referred to as 'Plastic Money', the saying goes like ... 'spend as you like and pay as you wish!. The corporate conglomerates have indulged in a concept where it allows you to spend on consumer goods using plastic money so that their products are purchasable by consumers, the workers as consumers without realizing this trend spend using credit cards, without realizing that one must only spend if there is a need; thus the daily household expenses has increased three fold as consumers goods were bought on borrowed money, goods bought under credit draws interest and the worker as to fork-out hard earned money to the creditors - this system has put the workers in trouble far too long leading to workers working extra hours to service the loans, any default on their part may lead to bankruptcy to avoid such consequence they put in more labour to service this loan.
The employer forever wants to keep workers in limbo, wages are not increased to commensurate with the ever raising cost of living, to earned extra, workers have to perform overtime work these may result in less quality time with loved ones and family members. Financial constrains encourages to live on credit terms, a false system of spending money without earning it. Money spent in this manner may draw interest and increases the tendencies and desire in purchasing goods which is not needed these leads to excessive application of plastic money which the bankers introduce will eventually ruin workers financial security.
It is a sad occasion to register here that despite several initiative to organize labour day this year workers have not come forward to support labour day - a show of lukewarm towards labour struggle indicates that workers have forgotten the sacrifices of our labour leaders who died fighting for our rights, workers of the present day are more occupied with internal dispute rather that championing the workers rights and educating its membership, the lack of vision to lead the union to a higher level is not put forth.....if the necessary initiative are not put in place to steer it to a better foundation than it will die a self-induced death to avoid that union has to bugle-up and march forward.
Stop spending on credit terms, you cannot depend on credit cards employers need to market their products so if the don't increase wages workers would be left with less purchasing power than they have no alternative but to revise wages, "Credit Card" is a double headed digger - you end-up paying more - or buying products which you don't need just to impress people, it is your hard earned money spend wisely - save for your rainy days as retirement means free from depths and financial security.
In conjunction with Labour Day I wish all my fellow workers and union leaders 'Wishing Solidarity Forever Working Class" " Long Live the Workers"
Arjunan
