Labour unions are united in praising Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong for his pivotal role in securing Hari Raya assistance for bank employees.

The Union Network International-Malaysia Labour Centre (UNI-MLC) commended Steven for his efforts in facilitating the festival payment agreement.

UNI-MLC president Datuk Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal welcomed the decision to provide festival assistance to bank employees, describing it as a positive step towards fostering harmonious employer-employee relations.

Shafie underscored the crucial role played by Sim in resolving the impasse surrounding festival payments.

“The minister’s intervention not only led to a resolution but also emphasized the importance of advocating for workers’ interests,” Shafie stated.

UNI-MLC expressed optimism that the festival payments would serve as a morale booster for bank employees as they approach the Aidilfitri celebrations next week.

Expressing gratitude, Sarawak Bank Employees’ Union chief executive Andre Lo thanked the Sarawak Commercial Bank Association (SCBA) and its member banks, along with the minister, for their dedication to enhancing workers’ welfare.

In a statement, Lo highlighted the agreement reached between SCBA and the Sarawak Bank Employees Union (SBEU), ensuring that bank workers, irrespective of their religious affiliation, will receive Hari Raya aid for 2024.

The announcement follows reports indicating that several banks have initiated the disbursement of festival assistance, amounting to one month’s salary for non-executive employees and 0.5 months’ salary for executives and special grades.

However, amidst the celebrations, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) emphasised the necessity of a long-term solution to address systemic issues concerning workers’ rights.

“While the bonus brings immediate relief and joy to employees, it’s imperative to continue working towards sustainable benefits and fair treatment,” MTUC president Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani stated in a release.

“We commend Minister Steven Sim for his steadfast commitment to social justice and urge both employers and unions to prioritize ongoing dialogue and collaboration.”

However, National Union of Bank Employees (Nube) had earlier alleged discrepancies in the distribution of the “one-off Ex-Gratia Festival Payment 2024.”

In a recent blog post, Nube claimed that more than 90% of its members received only 50% of the festival aid.