Lab Assistants - A Much Ignored Lot.

When I read the news that lab assistants have given a 'work to rule' notice, I wasn't really surprised and in fact I must say that they have indeed been patient all this while. The reality is that without them no lab can function properly and optimally. Everyone who is involved in lab work knows that. However because of the relative anonymity of their duties and surroundings they tend to be ignored along with their legitimate demands as this TheStar report tells us.

Some 3,000 lab assistants at all 18 public institutions of higher learning and university colleges will work to rule from January following the Government’s failure to upgrade their position to lab technologists or science assistant officers.

The joint meeting of presidents and honorary secretaries of Local Public Higher Institutions Malaysia (Gakum) decided yesterday that from next month, their members would only work between 8am and 5pm.

Gakum president Omar Osman said they were disappointed that the Higher Education Ministry had not looked into the plight of their members although the request was made in 2003.

“Our meeting (yesterday) decided that since the ministry is not giving our members due recognition, they will work just like any school lab assistant, like cleaning lab equipment or switching on the air-conditioner,” he said.

“Don’t expect our members to work according to lecturers’ schedules, which can extend up to 8pm, because they will not do it.”

Gakum has asked for a basic salary of RM972 a month, up from RM656.

Omar, who is also Cuepacs president, said various efforts had been made, including meeting up with university registrars and the ministry’s secretary-general.

“However, our effort has been to no avail. Even our attempt to meet the minister has been futile.

“The ministry talks about turning our public universities into world class institutions and yet it can’t even provide better prospects for lab assistants,” he added.
Image - Ingo Erdmann