Increase pay of highly-qualified civil servants holding lower-level positions – Cuepacs

The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) yesterday proposed to the government to consider granting one annual salary increase to highly-qualified civil servants currently holding positions that require much lower academic qualifications.

Cuepacs president Datuk Azih Muda said the proposal was seen appropriate as there were civil servants with diplomas and degrees still holding lowerlevel positions suitable for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) certificate holders.

“The government should consider a better emolument for these civil servants to enable them to cope with the rising cost of living. So, we urge the government to consider an incentive or salary increase for them.”

He said this to reporters after attending the Peninsular Malaysia National health Administrative Assistants Union’s 14th biennial general meeting, here yesterday.

Meanwhile, Azih said Cuepacs also saw the need for the government to create a stress management school at the National Institute of Public Administration (Intan) to address the issues of workplace stress among the civil servants, especially those working at agencies under the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education.

“Workplace stress happens when they are understaffed. A public clinic in the Federal Territory, for example, only has seven staff to cater to the needs of so many patients on a daily basis and this situation can cause the staff to suffer from stress and eventually found themselves having their own medical cards for psychiatric treatment.

“The first solution that we proposed the government to consider is to create a stress management school at Intan, and the second one is to review the structure and services of the agencies affected by workplace stress, such as those under the health and education ministries,” he added. - Bernama