KUALA LUMPUR: The 40,000-strong National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) yesterday called on all banks to follow the government’s lead and consider paying Hari Raya bonus to all their non-executive employees.
The government had declared a half month’s bonus with a minimum of RM500 to all civil servants.
Even pensioners receive RM500 each.
NUBE secretary-general J Solomon said Malaysian banks were doing very well and posting profits year-on-year and could easily afford to do so.
He pointed out that although such a bonus was not part of the collective agreement, it should not stop banks from paying it in the name of corporate social responsibility to lessen the burden of their lower-income employees.
Solmon told Bernama that NUBE had written to all chief executive officers to consider the bonus, the quantum of which would be left to the banks to decide.
“Malaysia is a multiracial and multireligious nation where we coexist peacefully and are the envy of other nations.
“Regardless of our religion or ethnicity, we all celebrate Hari Raya,” he said. — Bernama