Already on minimum wage, public school cleaners allegedly forced into unpaid leave, pay cuts

KUALA LUMPUR – School cleaners complaining about pay cuts have come to the attention of Jaringan Pekerja Kontrak Kerajaan (JPKK), alleging the cleaners were also forced to take unpaid leave.

In a Twitter thread on Saturday, JPKK shared screenshots of text messages from school cleaners alleging they were going to have their wages cut, and some were being forced to take unpaid leave.

Ramai cleaner sekolah mengadu pada kami yang gaji akan dipotong masa PKP. Kontraktor bagi alasan PPD potong peruntukan sebab @KemPendidikan kata tak semua kena kerja setiap hari, kena ikut giliran. Tapi @myksm kata tak boleh potong gaji semasa PKP? Gaji minimum pun nak potong? pic.twitter.com/hzcpbkTFLX

— JPKK (@jpkk_official) June 26, 2021

This is not the first time this issue has been brought to light.

JPKK had released a video on June 9, titled “Boleh ke majikan potong gaji semasa PKP?”, highlighting the complaints from school cleaners over pay cuts during the movement control order.

Speaking to The Vibes, JPKK secretary Sivaranjani Manikam alleged nothing has been done by the Education Ministry thus far.

She also alleged that the firms awarded contracts by the ministry have had their payments deducted, resulting in their workers often receiving less than minimum wage. 

“These cleaners are already receiving the minimum wage that is RM1,200.

“Payments to contractors have been deducted based on 60% of work, but contractors used that as a reason to deduct wages of the workers.

“We referred to the guidelines from the Human Resources Ministry, it says that employers cannot deduct wages during lockdown.”

Sivaranjani alleged that the Education Ministry puts the blame on the contractors and by saying that it is not responsible for the wages of workers.

She also questioned how contractors are expected to pay their workers in full if they themselves are not being paid. 

“You shouldn’t deduct the payment to the contractors in the first place.”

She said even if a legal claim has been made against the contractors, it will end in a dispute as the contractors themselves have not been paid in full. – The Vibes, June 27, 2021