Collective Agreements and the Wages of Rubber Tappers in Malaysia, 1954-2003: A Revisit of ‘Bad Bargains’

Authors

  • Parthiban S. Gopal Universiti Sains Malaysia
  • Suresh Narayanan Universiti Sains Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22452/MJES.vol54no1.7

Keywords:

Collective bargaining, daily wage, performance payments, price bonus, rubber plantation

Abstract

Drawing on collective agreements pertaining to rubber tappers in the Malaysian plantation sector for the period, 1954-2003, the authors re-examine three
conclusions of previous studies: (i) real earnings of tappers had not increased, (ii) the prosperity sharing provision in the agreements was ineffective in passing some of the windfall gains to workers; and (iii) the overall payment scheme, with fixed and flexible components, only benefited employers. These claims, if left to stand without careful re-examination, would represent a serious misinterpretation of facts. Our findings show that overall earnings have kept pace with rising inflation and the prosperity sharing mechanism benefited workers in 43 out of the 46 years since its introduction in 1959. The flexible wage system, while benefitting employers, also protected labour employment in times of rubber price downswings. 

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Author Biographies

Parthiban S. Gopal, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Development Studies Programme, School of Social Sciences

Suresh Narayanan, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Economics Programme, School of Social Sciences

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Published

2017-05-30

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Section

Articles