02-05-2025
Savings for union members
United for workers' rights: Anwar (centre) launching the 2025 National Labour Day celebration at Axiata Arena Bukit Jalil. With him are (from left) Sim, Ahmad Zahid, Fadillah and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Members of all labour unions will be able to enjoy up to 30% discounts on about 100 selected services and products courtesy of the newly launched Kad Pekerja Madani.
All private and public sector union members are eligible to apply for the card which was launched by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the national-level Labour Day celebration yesterday.
The discounts span across 100 brands and are expected to benefit about one million union members nationwide, the Prime Minister said.
According to the Kad Pekerja Madani website, participating brands include those in food and beverage, clothing and education as well as travel sectors.
Workers can apply for the card through the Kad Pekerja Madani website and successful applicants will receive a digital card with a unique QR code.
One of the aims of the programme is to reduce the living costs of union members through discounts and special perks, the website said.
'It is hoped that the benefits would also attract more workers to join unions and expand the social safety net for workers,' the website said.
Present during the card's launch at the Labour Day Carnival 2025 at Axiata Arena Bukit Jalil were Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, other Cabinet members and senior government officers.
Anwar also presented several awards in conjunction with the national-level Labour Day celebrations.
Among them were the Worker Icon Award (Anugerah Tokoh Pekerja), Best Employer, Best Workers' Union and Best Media Agency.
In his speech, Anwar urged companies to share their profits with their workers by fairly compensating them.
'Yes I want companies to make profits, but don't keep the profits to yourselves,' he said in his speech at the Labour Day Carnival 2025 at Axiata Arena Bukit Jalil here yesterday.
He also said workers' rights go beyond just increasing their wages but involve providing a healthy workplace, training and decent housing.
'Without the cleaners and technicians, We won't achieve success,' he said.
Anwar's speech received thunderous applause from over 10,000 attendees at the event who comprised labour union members from the public and private sectors.
'We started with increasing the minimum wage,' he said, referring to the RM1,700 monthly wage level set by the unity government in February.
'When we discussed this matter in the Cabinet, it was not easy as we received a lot of feedback and concerns from some employers,' he said.
'Some employers said there will be no investment, that production costs would increase.'
Although the government accepted this feedback, it still had to think of the welfare of the workers at the lowest rungs of society, said Anwar.
'So we increased (the minimum wage) a little to protect their income and provide for their welfare,' he said.
