A UNION actively fighting for the rights of hospital cleaners hopes to raise RM135,000 to sustain its work for another year.

The National Union of Workers in Hospital Support and Allied Services in Peninsular Malaysia (NUWHSAS) represents cleaners in government hospitals.

The union is also currently involved in court cases against government-linked firm UEMS Edgenta Berhad that employs hospital cleaners and provides maintenance services to government hospitals.

Chua Minxi, the manager in charge of fundraising, told The Malaysian Insight the RM135,000 sum was vital to cover costs in its fight for its members and to be able to fund the work and other expenses of five union employees.

“These five staff members, who have been with the union since 2016, are essential to the continued functioning of the union,” said Chua. 

“Two of them are industrial relations officers, who act as liaisons for union members in dispute with management.

“Another two are key organisers in the northern region, and one is a staff member who is also a key organiser in the southern region.”

Chua said these five have been self-funding and have relied on friends and family to help pay for their personal and work expenses.

“This includes the time, labour and travel costs needed to visit cleaners in hospitals across the country as well as organise protests for cleaners’ rights.

“It’s a financial strain on them and the Covid-19 has made things worse,” Chua said.

One of the union’s landmark cases is the industrial relations (IR) case against UEMS Edgenta and its two subsidiaries.

In January, the union successfully raised RM62,849.30 through public donations in less than two days for a case against the three parties over allegations of union-busting.

The bulk of the funds collected were to be used for food, transport and accommodation of 64 witnesses who had to travel from 14 hospitals in Penang and Perak to Kuala Lumpur to testify in the case.

The case, however, has been postponed to September due to the ongoing movement restrictions in the country.

“All the cases are currently in a deadlock due to the MCO. The case in January did not go on, it has been pushed to September.

Chua said about half of the money collected in January has been used for other purposes.

“The original sum of RM39,000 raised has not been spent and is reserved for September.

“However, the additional RM30,529.30 raised was spent on other needs,” Chua said.

The additional funds were channelled to support union members who have been unfairly terminated by their employers and who were now without an income.

“Many have not been able to find new jobs due to Covid-19. One such person is Rita Santaran who became financially dependent on the union in January 2020,” she said.

Overworked and abused

Chua said hospital cleaners faced a huge amount of stress and strife during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last year, police arrested and charged five labour activists and supporters of the NUWHSAS who organised a protest in front of Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) in Ipoh.

They wanted to call attention to the grouses of hospital cleaners, including the lack of protective gear, putting them at risk of being infected by Covid-19.

A year later, the union sent a memorandum to Health Minister Dr Adham Baba as cleaners were exhausted from ill treatment and being overworked.

The union said hospital workers are yet to be recognised as front-liners and have been denied the benefits and incentives the government gave to healthcare front-liners.

Following the memorandum, Edgenta UEMS vowed cooperation with the Health Ministry and the union to resolve their grievances.

Chua said there have been no updates from the Health Ministry on that matter since then.

In April, the union helped with at protest at Hospital Seri Manjung to stop the harassment and abuse of hospital cleaner Tharani Kutty.

Tharani had alleged that her employer, Edgenta UEMS Sdn Bhd, discriminated against her and other transgender workers.

Tharani had sued the company over unpaid overtime wages and won the case when she took it to the labour tribunal. Edgenta was ordered to pay her RM1,211.

Edgenta is appealing the January 2021 court decision and Tharani said that her supervisors have intensified their abuse of her.

Chua said the union needed money to help fight for its members like Tharani, Rita and many others.

“Without the RM135,000 funds, we will have to either slow down or even completely halt union activities.

“As a result, vulnerable workers like Tharani will continue to be bullied by the management.

“And the cycle of exploitation and abuse that exists in government hospitals across Malaysia will persist,” she said.

As of June 23, the union had raised RM31,182, falling short of its RM135,000 target.

“Compared to the previous fundraiser, it has been progressing a lot slower than before.

“But, of course, we are super-grateful for everyone who donated, despite the continual MCO and economic hardships that everyone is facing,” Chua said.

For more information on the fundraiser, visit https://www.facebook.com/BilaKamiBersatu

Interested donors may remit their contributions to Public Bank account number 3209530324 – Community Women and Workers Network Consultancy (CWWN), with the reference “HidupKesatuan”. – June 28, 2021.