Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and New Zealand
30 July 2021
Contract doctors strike in Malaysia for permanent jobs
About 7,000 contract doctors employed in Malaysia’s public hospitals walked off the job across Malaysia on Monday to demand changes in their terms of employment. About 23,000 frontline contract doctors are employed under a temporary system established by the government in 2016.
The strike, which also affected COVID-19 care centres, was in defiance of threats from health authorities and police. Clothed in black, the doctors returned to wards soon after the walkout, having ensured patients were being looked after. The contract doctors’ strike (
Hartal Docktor Kontrak ) demanded that these doctors be given permanent jobs. Currently in a career limbo, short-term contract doctors are blocked from professional advancement and their pay is at least 30 percent lower than permanent public health doctors.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and New Zealand
2 July 2021
Malaysian government doctors threaten strike action
Tens of thousands of young contract doctors employed in Malaysia’s public hospitals have threatened to strike on July 26 to demand changes in their terms of employment.
The strike threat was made by an independent group of contract doctors who are facing a surge of coronavirus infections in Malaysia. On June 29, coronavirus infections in Malaysia set a record daily high of 6,437.
On Monday, other contract doctors established an on-line social media page “Contract Doctors’ Strike” that trended for hours. MMA Schomos, the official union representing all government doctors, has begun its own social media campaign but limited to calling on all Malaysians to wear black on a Monday in solidarity with doctors.
Meanwhile, BBMP could achieve 35 per cent of vaccination target on Wednesday (up to 7 pm). The maximum vaccination was achieved in Mahadevapura zone with 74 per cent while the lowest was in Bommanahalli with 11 per cent achievement.