Proton clarifies inaccurate statement by MTUC

Proton's comment on MTUC's claim last Wednesday. Press Release: On the statement made by MTUC Secretary General on Wednesday, 10 March 2010, which claimed that more than 2,000 PROTON staff has been receiving monthly basic salary of RM600 since 2003, PROTON would like to clarify that the statement made is not accurate. PROTON currently has a total of only 481 staff at its Shah Alam and Tanjung Malim plants who are getting RM600 basic salary. These staff, who makes up 7.5% out of the total staff count at both plants, are entry level employees who are currently undergoing six-months intensive on job training. Upon completion of the six-months training, the employees will receive their first salary increment. We would like to highlight that on top of the basic salary, these employees also enjoy fixed monthly allowances for food, transportation, laundry and others. That, along with other allowances and incentives given by the company, totals up to a competitive take-home salary compared to other automotive players within the industry for the said group of employees. At the same time PROTON would also like to highlight that we are in the midst of a negotiation and review process before establishing a new Collective Agreement (an agreement signed by the employee union and the company) that will entail a new salary structure for the non-executives for the period of 2010 to 2012. With the restructuring, non-executive employees will receive a higher and more competitive monthly salary.