PUTRAJAYA: The Government Contract Workers Network (JPKK) has appealed to the Education Ministry to look into the welfare of cleaners and security guards in schools as their contract has been terminated without any notice early this month.
JPKK coordinator R Mohanarani said about 10,000 schools nationwide had to let go these contract workers without any notice after new contractors took over the jobs of cleaning and providing security.
“JPKK urges the ministry to help those affected and find solutions to the contract workers’ plight following their dismissal about a month ago.
“After the appointment of new contractors, the number of workers have been reduced due to smaller budget allocated by the (education) ministry which has resulted in many contract workers losing their source of income.
“For security guards, there will be three shifts and no longer two shifts. This has caused less working hours which will affect the security guards’ earnings as they can no longer make overtime claim,” he told reporters before meeting the Education Ministry’s Acquisition and Asset Management Division director here today.
Twelve former contract cleaners and security guards were also present to make their appeal to the ministry.
The Education Ministry on Wednesday said it was not involved in the hiring and termination of contract cleaners and security guards in schools, adding that the hiring of contract workers was done fully by the companies which had secured the contract to provide such supporting services.
In this respect, Mohanarani hoped for new resolutions could be reached regarding the hiring of contract workers, which could help to ease their financial burden.
“The contract workers are those in the B40 income group and now they have lost their jobs. Most of them are also in their 40s, which makes it harder for them to find new jobs.”
Former Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Poi Lam, Ipoh, contract cleaner Zaleha Piie said she was informed of her contract termination on Jan 2 when she arrived at the school to work on that day.
The 50-year-old mother said the company did not issue any notice regarding her termination which had resulted in her losing the much needed income to help her husband to support the family.
“My salary is not big. It is only RM800 per month and my husband is a lorry driver without a fixed income. This has definitely impacted my family financially, especially for our two schoolgoing children,” she added.