SIX hundred employees from the B40 and M40 groups will be impacted by HSBC Bank Malaysia’s voluntary separation scheme (VSS) and mutual separation scheme (MSS), said J. Solomon.

The National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) general secretary said the scheme is grossly unfair and inhumane to the hundreds of workers who are already heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, adding that this is the third time in six years the bank has resorted to this.

“That the bank should once again resort to this same heavy-handed measure, thereby crushing the already bleak future of its loyal workers, especially in current times, smacks of arrogance and a total absence of empathy by the management,” he said in a statement today.

Solomon said despite recommendations by NUBE during two meetings with HSBC on May 25 and 28 advising against the scheme, the bank nonetheless proceeded with its measures.

“NUBE takes the position that HSBC did not follow the correct procedure when it insisted on announcing the implementation of VSS and MSS on June 3 under the pretext of restructuring its operations, which involved a planned closure of seven branches nationwide.”

He added that HSBC has continued to record profit throughout the pandemic, hence its restructuring should see an increase in the workforce or retraining of staff to ensure they remained relevant.

“HSBC chose to take the opposite path by carrying out another cruel downsizing exercise. The bank’s move is in direct contradiction of the terms and conditions in the Collective Agreement between HSBC and NUBE.

“HSBC has shown it is not transparent with its motives, and continues to ignore the need for sincere negotiations with NUBE, instead opting to act clandestinely to undermine the union and its workers,” he said.

Solomon said the bank was also in breach of the Code of Conduct for Industrial Industry as it had failed to subscribe to best practices for employer-employee relationships, and denied fair and equitable treatment to its stakeholders, especially workers and customers.

“Regretfully, despite these clear violations, the government has given approval to HSBC to implement VSS and MSS, especially during the current total ‘lockdown’.”

Solomon said he is, however, optimistic that the bank will give top priority to the welfare of its employees, especially NUBE members. – June 6, 2021.