KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Trades Union Congress(MTUC) today lauded the MIC President's proposal that monthly wages beinstituted for estate labourers.

MTUC President Senator Zainal Rampak hoped the monthly wages would not bebelow the amount stipulated for poverty level so as to help these poorpeople who had all this while been left behind in the mainstream ofdevelopment.

He also hoped that the Cabinet would review the monthly wage quantum forestate workers particularly oil palm estate labour force, which had beenfixed at RM325 a month.

Monday, Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu, who is also the Works Minister, wasreported to have said that the MIC's paper containing the new wageproposal for rubber estate employees would be tabled at the Cabinetmeeting next month.

This followed its earlier proposal which was rejected by the MalaysianProducers Association (MAPA).

So far the the minimum monthly salary of RM325 applied only to the 45,000oil palm estate wage earners and was effective Jan 1, 2000. --BERNAMA