BUTTERWORTH: Unity and solidarity are crucial to ensuring workers’ rights and welfare are protected amid global geopolitical and economic uncertainties, says Steven Sim.
The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister urged unions such as the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) to remain united so that teachers continue to play their role to shape future leaders to navigate increasingly complex global challenges.
Beyond imparting knowledge, Sim said the teaching profession also has the responsibility to shape students’ discipline, values, and sense of identity.
"This in turn produces successful national leaders, public administrators and professionals.
“Every prime minister, president, minister and even king began with a teacher who patiently taught them how to read and write,” he said in a Teacher’s Day appreciation speech to the union’s Penang branch on Friday (May 15).
Sim also congratulated civil servants, including teachers, on receiving a 15% salary increase after more than 12 years without salary adjustments.
He stressed that strong unions remain essential in defending workers’ rights and welfare, such as NUTP, established over 52 years ago with approximately 230,000 current members across 11 states in Peninsular Malaysia.
“When we unite, stand together and have NUTP, our welfare can be protected. The workload carried by teachers cannot be fully reflected in their payslips as they not only teach but also nurture, educate, guide students and manage various administrative responsibilities.
“A payslip does not show the sweat, sacrifices and tears of a teacher carrying the immense responsibility of shaping the nation’s future generations,” he said.
The former Human Resources Minister added that unity and solidarity among workers are crucial in defending workers’ rights and welfare, especially amid global geopolitical and economic uncertainties.
"The government has in the past implemented various measures, including raising the minimum wage, strengthening protection for gig workers and increasing civil servants’ salaries to improve workers' welfare.
“Without unions we are weak and without unity we cannot defend workers’ rights and their welfare,” he said.
