More than 1,500 join Labour Day rally in KL
The rally carried the theme 'Workers are the pillars of the country: Raise salaries, not burdens'.
KUALA LUMPUR : More than 1,500 people gathered outside Pasar Seni today to take part in a Labour Day rally, calling for better workers' rights and reforms.
Dressed largely in black, white and red, the crowd began assembling at about 9.30am before marching towards Dataran Merdeka.
Along the way, they chanted slogans like 'Youths want paid internships' and 'Wages to live, not to go hungry', while holding placards demanding fair treatment for workers.
The event was organised by Jawatankuasa Satu Mei, a coalition that includes political parties such as Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and Muda, as well as student groups, NGOs and civil society organisations.
The rally carried the theme 'Workers are the pillars of the country: Raise salaries, not burdens'.
Among the key demands voiced by the participants were an increase in the national minimum wage to RM2,000 and the implementation of a comprehensive affordable housing policy.
PSM Youth committee member Aiman Farihah Shukri urged the government to refrain from creating 'pro-capitalism policies' and instead come up with policies that truly benefit the rakyat.
She also called on the government to raise the minimum wage from RM1,700 to RM2,000 or above, saying that a higher amount was needed to deal with the rising cost of living in the Klang Valley.
Meanwhile, Himpunan Advokasi Rakyat Malaysia (Haram) coordinator Alyaah Hani Anuar called on the government to ensure those undergoing internship receive a salary of at least RM1,700 per month.
'Many interns are treated like free labour and this is not a new issue. How can they support themselves in Kuala Lumpur if they do not get paid?'
Gerakan Badan Bertindak Sahabat E-Hailing Malaysia chairman Zulkifli Othman, on the other hand, said the current pay of about RM6 an hour is not enough for e-hailing drivers to cover essential expenses and also pay for insurance coverage in the event of a road accident.
The rally ended peacefully at around 12.40pm.
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