Cuepacs urges PM to consider proposals as Labour Day approaches

The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Civil Service (Cuepacs) is calling on the Prime Minister to consider a number of proposals in conjunction with the Civil Service Labour Day celebrations this Thursday.

Cuepacs President Azih Muda said he had brought up the matters for the benefit of the estimated 1.5 million civil servants in the country during a meeting with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Monday. He said among the issues that needed to be addressed were a number of allowances and incentives which have not been reviewed for a long time despite the drastic rise in the cost of living.

"Prices keep going up but never come down. A review of housing and civil service allowances are long overdue.

"The same with mileage claims. There's been no review despite a number of hikes in fuel prices. All these burden civil servants in carrying out their duties. We also urge for the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to be streamlined," he told reporters, Tuesday.

Najib is expected to attend the Labour Day celebrations to be held at Dewan Wawasan, Jitra this Thursday.

Azih further stressed that the current civil servant probationary period of one to three years was too long.

He said Cuepacs also wanted the status of pre-independent government quarters to be changed to rented quarters with a rent of RM124 as those who occupied them are not eligible for housing allowance and get only half the COLA. Another proposal, he said, was for all Muslim civil servants to be given between 12 and 15 days leave for their pilgrimage.

He added that Cuepacs was against trimming the civil service as well because it caused a big strain on implementing government agendas and policies.

And finally Azih urged the government to change the calculation of retirement gratuity from 7.5 percent to 10.5 percent and to raise pension from 60 percent to 70 percent of the last drawn salary or maximum payable from 360 months to 372 months.