SCORES of employees are likely to lose their jobs as HSBC Bank outsources its functions to foreign and local vendors, said the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE).

HSBC’s decision violates its own collective agreement with its workers as it refuses to consult the union over the impending job losses, said NUBE secretary-general J. Solomon.

“This will cause massive job losses involving local workers. The bank is outsourcing job functions that are currently being performed by about 200 Malaysian workers to India, Sri Lanka and to third parties in the country,” Solomon said in a statement.

“HSBC has refused to participate in effective consultation with NUBE on the necessity for exporting jobs out of HSBC Malaysia.

“NUBE construes the export of jobs by HSBC Malaysia as a blatant form of ingratitude since it is profiting mainly from Malaysians and local funds, it is using the profits to enrich companies abroad at the expense of locals who will be laid off.”

When contacted, an official said the bank is preparing a response to NUBE’s claims.

“HSBC is bent on maximising profits at all costs at the expense of thousands of local workers who are expected to be laid off in the coming months as their jobs are exported to India and Sri Lanka.”

NUBE had written to the bank in October when it found out about its decision to outsource jobs, asking the management to postpone the decision pending discussions with the union.

“HSBC wrote to us on November 11 saying it could not accede to any of our requests.

“The bank went ahead and engaged a third party to issue laying off letters on November 13 to its employees, disregarding Article 14 in the CA (collective agreement). The letters were issued in a cruel and inhumane manner.”

Despite the unpopular move, HSBC is attempting to placate the government by pointing to its RM1 billion investments to construct its new headquarters in TRX City.

“I hope the Finance Ministry, Human Resource Ministry and Bank Negara will see the irony – that local workers will be laid off even though the bank is committed to making more money in this country.”

Solomon also accused the bank of being anti-union when it terminated, suspended and issued warning letters to employees who took part in union activities.

“The bank had previously delayed signing the CA, which resulted in workers going without annual salary increments for three years before it was concluded on July 15.

“This anti-union and exploitation happened under the nose of the Human Resource Ministry which failed to even give a slap on the wrist despite us writing several complaints to the authorities.

“We urge Bank Negara and the Finance Ministry to intervene in HSBC’s latest abuse of worker rights that are enshrined in their CA with the bank.” – November 21, 2019.