PSM deputy chairman M Sarasvathy claimed that there were over 50,000 contract cleaners working in hospitals and clinics nationwide who were being ill-treated.
She said this happened after the five concessionaires that were awarded government contracts for hospital support services sub-contracted the work to private companies for two years.
“This led to the companies offering contracts up to six months, a year or two years to the cleaners when such jobs should be permanent.
“But these companies dressed up the jobs as seasonal and offered fixed contracts,” she said at a press conference.
As a result, Sarasvathy said, the cleaners were denied their annual leave, annual bonuses as well as compensation in the event that they are retrenched, among other benefits.
“And they have been working for 20 years,” she added.
The Employment Act 1955, Sarasvathy said, stipulates that a contract can only be offered for a certain period and is meant for part-time jobs.
She said PSM called on the Pakatan Harapan government and the concessionaires to rectify the situation which discriminated against workers.
PSM’s allegation comes barely a month after a report that judges and staff at the Kuala Lumpur court complex had to sweep floors and clean toilets as the cleaners employed for the tasks had gone on strike since May.
About 20 workers were reported to have staged a strike, allegedly because they were not paid their salaries as promised.
The government has since demanded a written report on the matter.