HBUK cleaners go on picket strike, give Edgenta UEMS one week to meet 11 demands

KUALA LUMPUR – Hospital cleaners from Bahagia Ulu Kinta Hospital (HBUK) in Perak have made 11 demands to their employers Edgenta UEMS Sdn Bhd in a bid to claim their rights.

A total of 40 HBUK cleaners participated in a peaceful picket that kicked off at approximately 3.30pm today, calling on Edgenta UEMS to come up with solutions to their demands, with a one-week deadline to do so.

In a statement today, National Union of Workers in Hospital Support and Allied Services executive secretary M. Sarasvathy alleged that Edgenta UEMS practised favouritism in salary increment to staffers.

Sarasvathy slammed the government-linked subcontractor for not awarding the increment to every employee, even though it is only RM30.

“The union has been informed that employees eligible for the increment received a letter of notification on July 29, 2021, stating that the new salary after increment is RM1,230 (an increment of RM30.00). However, more than 90 HBUK employees were not given the increment.

“The increment based on a performance assessment is biased and a sign of favouritism. An increment of RM30.00 is not a lot and can be given by UEMS to all its employees.

“This salary increment could have been made more fairly and not just arbitrarily, which is likely to be manipulated by those who are making the assessment,” she alleged.

The picketers had made multiple demands including an annual bonus, laundry and shift allowance, annual leave increase, 15 days of public holidays, and medical benefits of RM1,000.

“Before UEMS took over as their employer, they were granted 15 days of public holiday. It was then reduced to 11 days after UEMS took over. 

“Before this, each employee was also entitled to receive RM1,000 worth of medical benefits. But now, it has been reduced to RM200,” she claimed. 

The group also pressed their new employers to allocate sufficient uniforms (three sets of uniform with two T-shirts), not force them to work in two to three different locations, and to give special allowances for workers in Covid-19 wards.

Another point of grief raised by Sarasvathy was her allegation against UEMS supervisors who played favourites, with those earning their favour being able to get overtime and some form of consolation.

According to the union’s industrial relations officer Danaletchumi Langaswaran, cleaners from HBUK have sent three separate letters to their employers, but met a muted response.

In order to be heard, the workers were forced to go on strike three times, but still met no response from their employers. Frustrated, they went all-out this time and held a picketing line before the hospital.

“They have given UEMS a one-week ultimatum. We will have to discuss with the workers what they will do after this one week. We want to wait for the response from the employer,” Danaletchumi said.

Attempts have been made to contact Edgenta UEMS for comments. The Vibes have been informed by its corporate communications team that a statement will be issued shortly.

Edgenta UEMS is a subsidiary company to UEM Edgenta, which is owned by the government’s sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd. – The Vibes, September 17, 2021