Govt budget constraints would cost 50,000 Civil Servants To Be Retrenched

KUALA LUMPUR, (Oct 23) -- About 50,000 contract employees in the civil service are expected to be retrenched by the end of this year due to budget constraints, according to the Congress of Union Employees in the Public and Civil Service (Cuepacs).

But Cuepacs is not buying the lame excuse because the government could well afford to retain the services of these employees, its president, Omar Osman, told Bernama on Thursday.

He said Cuepacs had sent an urgent appeal to the Public Service Department (PSD) to help retain these staff, most of whom had served between five and 10 years and some have even served for 20 years.

These workers who were on a year-to-year contract spread among all departments and ministries nationwide did not enjoy the perks of permanent staff and yet performed the same tasks, he said.

Cuepacs had suggested that the PSD either redeploy these staff or absorb them into the permanent establishment.

Omar said Cuepacs officials would go round the country to assist these workers. The first meeting would be Kota Baharu on Nov 6.

The Congress would also discuss this issue during its delegates conference next month.

The PSD was not available for comment.

-- BERNAMA