KUANTAN: The Education Ministry has to be responsible for the welfare of 45,000 contract school cleaners whose services were abruptly terminated on May 30.
National Union of Workers in Hospital Support and Allied Services independent reviewing officer A. Sivarajan said the cleaners should have been given compensation but they have been denied any payment.
"Some of them have been working for more than 20 years and they were not given any compensation. Their contracts were renewed every three years and such things should not happen under the Employment Act 1955....the Education Ministry should provide answers.
"Today, 16 cleaners lodged a report with Industrial Relations Department, so we will wait for the department to hold a meeting with the contract workers within the next two weeks. We are seeking a solution so that the cleaners' misery will end soon ," he told reporters after accompanying the cleaners to lodge their report with the department.
Meanwhile, couple Muhamad Ibrahim Abdullah, 54, andhis wife, Fatimah Che Hassan, 50, who previously worked at Sekolah Vokasional Kuantan, said they were disappointed as the termination notice was handed just five days before Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
"I am upset since we have been working at the school for more than six years and we were not given any advance notice. We were shocked when told to suddenly leave the job.
"When I was informed that my contact has been terminated, I was only paid RM900 which is not according to the contract which I had signed earlier," said Ibrahim.
Meanwhile, Burhanuddin Abdul Shukor, 42, who worked at a school in Pekan, said since the termination notice was handed days before Aidilfitri, he was in no mood for the festive celebrations.
"I have three children aged between eight and 11 years old, and I have to look into their educational needs. I have taken up a job as a grass cutter to feed the family......I hope there will be a solution soon," he said.
In Pahang, more than 6,000 contract cleaners lost their jobs following the ministry's move to implement a new tender format beginning this year.
