Chong Yee Shan, a representative of the union, said the current policy of privatising cleaning services had left many workers struggling as they were not entitled to the RM1,500 minimum wage as well as medical and annual leave.

She said absorbing contract workers would also allow the government to prevent major concessionaires from awarding cleaning contracts to other providers for immediate profit.

“The government says privatisation will increase efficiency but the opposite occurs as private companies benefit at the expense of workers,” she said in a press conference today.

Meanwhile, M Sivaranjani of the Government Contract Workers’ Network (JPKK) said cleaners at government premises should be treated as civil servants since they provide an essential service.

“Workers such as security guards and cleaners are not seasonal but are needed throughout the year.

“Why must the government outsource a very basic, essential service to private contractors? Today, we see how various issues have cropped up after the contract system was used to oppress workers,” she said.

Mawar Shaabani, a school cleaner in Tanjung Karang, Selangor, said her employer had failed to implement the RM1,500 minimum wage on the grounds that higher operating costs had to be borne.

After 20 years of service at the secondary school, she said she had never received a raise.

“We are only paid a basic salary of RM1,100 and after deducting contributions to the Employees Provident Fund, we’re only left with RM973 per month,” she said.

“We are also denied our rights to annual leave and must find a replacement to fill in for us if we are ill.”