DO AWAY WITH CONTRACT SERVICE BY DEC 31 NEXT YEAR: CUEPACS

Daily Express Sabah
15 November, 2008

Kota Kinabalu: Cuepacs will request the government to do away with "Contract Service" in the public sector by Dec 31 next year.
During a press conference after giving a briefing at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Friday, its President Haji Omar Osman said the union also hoped that government agencies with contract staff would not terminate the service of these employees but rather continue their contract until pensionable age.
"I've been made to understand that there are a total of 50,000 contract staff in the civil service including Sabah and Sarawak. The Deputy Prime Minister has already issued a statement that their service will not be terminated so hopefully all government agencies will abide by it," he stressed.
Earlier during the briefing attended by university staff including from UiTM, he said Cuepacs has already engaged in discussions to request for one standard "Pensionable Scheme" for those to be employed by the government in future.
He indicated that contract staff were not getting a fair deal especially those who have served the government faithfully for 20 to 30 years. When they leave, they do not get a pension unlike pensionable staff who could expect to draw some money monthly, besides getting privileges like gratuity and medical benefits through the "Kad Pesara".
He said it was rather ironic, considering all these employees are Malaysians. "If they are alien workers then it is not surprising," he said.
Omar, who is also Union of Malaysian Universities (GAKUM) President urged universities to support Cuepacs, saying that it was very important for them to do so.
"You may see teachers eventually getting higher salaries and earning better than lecturers because they have been supporting Cuepacs."
In this regard, he said the universities should allow their staff to be active in their respective union such as KEKAUMAS in order for Cuepacs to speak for them as well.
Meanwhile, he said that Cupaces together with the NCWO, MYC, and Fomca would be organising a state by state consumer awareness roadshow on prudent spending in the face of high prices.
Pointing to the fact that there has been no significant decrease in the cost of essential items despite reduction in fuel prices, he said Cuepacs and the other organisations would stage a large scale "boycott" to ask consumers to refrain from patronising establishments which have yet to bring prices down.