KUALA LUMPUR: Proton Holdings Bhd said the statement by Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) secretary-general G Rajasekaran claiming Proton staff were being underpaid was inaccurate.

The national carmaker said that only 481 staff at its Shah Alam and Tanjung Malim plants were currently getting RM600 basic salary and not 2,000 as claimed by MTUC.

“The staff, who make up 7.5% of the total staff count at both plants, are entry level employees currently undergoing six months intensive on-the-job training. Upon completion of the six-month training, the employees will receive their first salary increment,” it said in a statement.

Rajasekaran said on Wednesday said that more than 2,000 Proton staff had been receiving monthly basic salary of RM600 since 2003.


This article appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, March 12, 2010.