Two unions against bimonthly salary payments

KUALA LUMPUR: Cuepacs will be holding a special congress on June 28 to discuss the two-instalment salary plan.

Its president, Omar Osman, said they would decide whether to support or reject the government proposal.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced on Wednesday that government employees would receive their salary in two instalments a month from August to ease the impact of the recent fuel price hike.

Omar said Cuepacs was not consulted on the move.

"The government may have good intentions but the implementation may be less effective," he said.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall Workers Union and the Malaysia Airlines System Employees Union (Maseu) also said they were not in favour of the bimonthly scheme.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall Workers Union secretary-general A. Munian said employees had grown accustomed to settling their bills at the end of the month and the new scheme might upset their budget.

Maseu executive secretary Mustafar Maarof said the two-instalment salary was impractical. -- Bernama

The New Straits Times Online: 13 Jun 2008