BUTTERWORTH: Unity and solidarity are crucial in safeguarding workers’ rights and welfare amid growing global geopolitical and economic uncertainties, says Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim (pic).
He urged unions such as the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) to remain united to ensure teachers can continue shaping future generations to face increasingly complex global challenges.
Teachers play a far greater role than merely imparting knowledge, he said.
“They shape students’ discipline, values and identity, producing future leaders, professionals and public administrators.
“Every prime minister, president, minister and even king once had a teacher who patiently taught them how to read and write,” he said in his address during the NUTP teachers’ appreciation ceremony in Seberang Jaya yesterday.
Sim, who was previously Human Resources minister, said strong unions such as the NUTP, which has about 230,000 members across 11 states in Peninsular Malaysia, remain essential in protecting workers’ welfare.
He said that teachers shoulder responsibilities beyond teaching, including guiding students and handling administrative duties.
Their efforts, Sim said, are often not reflected in their payslips.
“A payslip does not show the sweat, sacrifices and tears of a teacher carrying the immense responsibility of shaping the nation’s future generations.”
Sim also said the government had introduced various measures to improve workers’ welfare, including raising minimum wage, strengthening protection for gig workers and increasing civil servants’ salaries.
