KUALA LUMPUR: The government has cautioned Cuepacs not to cause industrial disharmony as it undermines efforts to overcome the economic downturn.

Public Services Department (PSD) director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam told Bernama yesterday that Cuepacs, as a major organisation representing civil servants, should be more responsible in its actions.

He was commenting on last week’s announcement by Cuepacs president Omar Osman that about 50,000 civil servants would boycott overtime work in protest over the delay in their pay revision.

“By boycotting overtime, it was tantamount to a work-to-rule, a form of industrial action,” he noted.

Ismail said this was something Cuepacs should not resort to, especially when the government was facing challenges on the economic front, in wanting to implement the various projects for the people’s benefit.

“We expect Cuepacs to be supportive of the government,” he added.

Ismail said the government was very considerate and had always given priority to the welfare of employees.

He hoped Cuepacs members would be able to emulate their counterparts in the private sector who had rallied behind the employers, in this time of economic downturn.

Ismail assured that the government was always willing to negotiate and accommodate the needs of its employees.

Meanwhile, a highly-placed Cuepacs source told Bernama that the views of its president were not shared by the rank-and-file.

“The affected members realise that boycotting overtime work would not do them any good as it would reduce their income and this was something they would want to avoid, particularly during this difficult period,” he said. — Bernama