Civil Servants Want Bonus Incorporated In Service Scheme

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- The Congress of Union Employees in the Public and Civil Service or Cuepacs, is seeking to incorporate the bonus element in the service scheme of civil servants to ensure it is paid annually.

Currently, bonus is paid at the discretion of the government based on its ability to pay, unlike in the private sector where it is an annual practice.

In good times, the 1.2 million civil servants have enjoyed a bonus of a month's salary or a minimum of RM1,000.

The congress is also proposing that the interest rate on housing loans be reduced from the current four per cent to one per cent annually.

These are among Cuepacs' new proposals to the government, as part of its review of the service conditions of civil servants, in a memorandum to be submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak soon.

Cuepacs sources told Bernama today that the memorandum -- approved by the congress' general council meeting in Ipoh recently -- would also seek to change the "golden hand shake" payment from the present maximum 150 days to the actual number of unused leave the officers had accumulated.

The "golden hand shake" is monetary payment for unused leave accumulated by an officer throughout his government service.

Another major change Cuepacs is seeking is in the calculation of pensions.

It is proposing that the present pension formulae based on the last drawn basic salary be changed to also include all allowances.

What this means is that when calculating the pension, all housing, cost of living, meal, mileage, driver, hardship and entertainment allowances should also be added to the last drawn basic salary.

Cuepacs is also seeking a new benefit in the form of leave to look after a sick child, with the duration depending on the length of the sickness.

Another new benefit it wants is reimbursement for dental implants and eye treatment.

On the various service schemes, it wants the present matrix promotion system to be replaced with a linear system, with additional five incremental steps.

It also wants to create a sub-professional scheme for diploma holders.

The sources said Cuepacs leaders were optimistic that the government would consider their proposals with an "open mind".

"We realise that the proposals, if accepted in toto, will increase the administrative cost of the government tremendously, but what we are hoping is that our request be met in stages," they added.

-- BERNAMA