PUBLIC hospital cleaners are riding in convoy from Penang to Putrajaya today, to highlight their meagre wages and the “modern-day slavery” by the private contractors who hire them.

They kicked off at Bukit Mertajam Hospital in Penang, and will cover 530km over four days – with breaks at rest and service stops to engage the public in their plight as government staff who are paid by private companies, said Parti Sosialis Malaysia deputy chairman S. Arutchelvan.

The National Union of Workers in Hospital Support and Allied Services in social media posts said government hospital cleaners and support staff are paid only RM1,200 a month.

“They work at Health Ministry hospitals, but paid by private contractors who reap huge profits at their expense.

“They are trapped in unfair contracts akin to modern-day slavery. The union is always facing opposition by private contractors, and threats have been issued to those who are active in the union.”

The convoy is expected to reach Putrajaya on February 8. The group hopes to meet Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who they have also tagged in social media posts.

The union said the public can support this cause by sharing social media updates on the convoy’s progress and donating food and water to riders.

The union has sent five memorandums on the workers’ plight to the Health Ministry since 2015, but no action has been taken, it added.

“Since the government has not paid attention to our issues, we will now bring our demands to Putrajaya.”

Last year, the union was embroiled in a legal battle with contractor UEM Edgenta Bhd over “union-busting” claims and other alleged unfair treatment of hospital cleaners and support staff, such as changing of shifts and working hours without workers’ consent.

The company denied the accusations, saying some decisions concerning workers were made as internal business matters and in accordance with laws governing private sector employment.

Workers have also alleged a lack of personal protective equipment, as hospital cleaners should also be considered frontliners, and denial of the special government allowance of RM600 for each frontliner. – February 5, 2022.