Letter to edtor
AS an employee of a leading bank in the country for more than 20 years, I find it disturbing and cannot understand the rationale why some banks opted to only pay their employees half a month of festival aid this year.
After all, the banks had on April 2 come up with the announcement on payment of one month’s salary for non-clerical staff and a month for clerical and special grade staff.
A pertinent point here is that more than 90% of NUBE (National Union of Bank Employees) members are those in the clerical and specific grade category.
Also, another point is that as a result of the agreement between NUBE and the Malayan Commercial Banks’ Association (MCBA) in 2023, bank employees were supposed to receive the festival aid of a full month’s salary.
This agreement was incorporated under the Festival Aid Memorandum of Agreement. What is most disturbing is that banks nationwide enjoyed huge profits despite the slow economy and there is no reason why they should not be rewarding their staff.
The contribution of their employees is the primary source of profits gained by commercial banks. There can be no dispute on the matter.
Minister’s intervention
Many of us in the lower earning brackets were hoping for some ministerial intervention to secure our festive aid before the Hari Raya celebrations this year. Unfortunately, this was not the case – and in all honesty – this was a major letdown.
To add salt to our wounds, we were taxed for the half-month payment we received. The government must understand that normal bank employees do not earn big bucks like CEOs and other high-ranking officers.
Some of us barely even hit the RM3,000 mark despite years of service and these extra benefits go a long way in helping us weather the storm.
I would also like to thank NUBE for continuously fighting for us and strongly urge the minister to step in and resolve this matter soon. He must always have the plight of workers close to his heart and never forget that it is us, the rakyat who voted them in.
It is pointless to have someone who would rather support the rich than fight for the rights of the less privileged. – April 10, 2024
Azura Mohd Isham
Subang Jaya, Selangor
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image credit: nube.org.my
