Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
UNIONS are all too
often associated with placards and protests. Many corporations consider unionists
outdated, and a hindrance to progress and profit.
<p> However, there are those
which enjoy healthy and successful working relationships with the management.
More importantly, these unions are indispensable to the people they represent.<p>
The Malaysian Trade Union Congress’ (MTUC) Women Committee celebrates International
Women’s Day today with the theme ‘Strong Women, Strong Union’. <I>StarTwo</I>
speaks to three women about making small but significant changes in their respective
organisations.<p> <b>Encouraging women leaders</b><p> <table border="0" cellpadding="7" align="left" width="194">
<tr><td> <IMG SRC="images/articles/2007/02kang.jpg" border="0" alt=""> </td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="caption"><FONT COLOR="#666666" SIZE="1">Strength in numbers:
Kang Bee Leng encourages women to take up leadership positions.</FONT></div></td></tr>
</table>If you phone Kang Bee Leng at 9pm, on most days, chances are she’d still
be at her “other place of work” – the Amalgamated Union of Employees in Government,
Clerical and Allied Services office.<p> After Kang finishes work at 5pm at the
Housing and Local Government Ministry as senior assistant administration officer,
she heads for the union office to attend to members’ problems or union activities.<p>
“It takes up a lot of my time but personally, it gives me self satisfaction because
I can help people and educate them on what to do in difficult situations,” says
Kang, 53.<p> Her work as general secretary, a position she has held since 1998,
has its share of difficulties and disappointments.<p> “Members sometimes leave
and they don’t always understand why we need to be united to obtain benefits.”<p>
However, Kang, who is also vice-president (public sector) of MTUC (Malaysian Trade
Union Congress), takes it all in her stride.<p> “I’ll never lose hope and will
keep going. I hope members will grow in their knowledge and membership will increase.
We also want responsible public servants and not just fight for better wages without
performance.”<p> Kang’s biggest challenge is getting people interested in the
union and making them believe in what it can do for them. She also encourages
women to take up leadership positions.<p> When Kang first became a member of the
union in 1985, there were only two women holding committee posts. Now, six out
of 13 exco members are women. The union currently has 7,500 members, of whom 60%
are women.<p> “It took a long time to reach this stage because in our culture
and society, women are still regarded as too weak to take up key positions,” says
Kang, adding that women also have more responsibilities today.<p> “It’s an uphill
task because women have to work, take care of their families and participate in
union activities.”<p> However, Kang feels the committee has managed to encourage
many women to come forward and voice their problems. The union also teaches them
how to cope with work and family life.<p> As part of this effort, the committee
formed a women’s sub-committee to foster better understanding about union work.<p>
“Sometimes, women are too shy to express themselves in front of men.<p> “In the
women’s committee, we discuss problems, and train and encourage women to hold
positions in their own unions,” she explains.<p> “Maybe one day when we have a
woman Chief Secretary to the Government, other women will come forward to hold
the higher positions.<p> “In our Pahang (Amalgamated Union) branch, women form
80% of the committee. Before, women were contented with being the second-liners,
but now many are willing to come to the forefront.”<p> <b>Committed to equality</b><p>
Roslena Mokhtar, 34, first joined her union committee to learn more about labour
laws and also because there were not many women union leaders then.<p> Today,
the accounts clerk is part of a committee that focuses on developing women’s leadership
skills.<p> “The main objective of the committee is to get more women to participate
in union activities. In the long run, we also want to ensure that there are future
women leaders,” says Roslena, who has been MTUC’s Women Committee secretary for
three years. The committee also creates awareness and knowledge related to unionism.<p>
“It aims to educate members about gender issues and labour laws,” she adds.<p>
Roslena, who is also MISC (Malaysian International Shipping Corporation) Employees
Union general secretary, feels strongly about the participation of women members
and gender equality.<p> <table border="0" cellpadding="7" align="center" width="314">
<tr><td> <IMG SRC="images/articles/2007/03nurse.jpg" border="0" alt=""> </td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="caption"><FONT COLOR="#666666" SIZE="1">Unity is the key:
Khadijah Khudri believes in harnessing the power of togetherness to achieve goals
set by the union.</FONT></div></td></tr> </table>“In general, we still see more
men than women involved in unions. Most of our women members are not active, and
they also need support and understanding from their husbands to join union activities,”
she says.<p> Currently, the MISC Employees Union has 12 committee members, half
of whom are women. It has about 300 members and has been led by two women presidents
before. Roslena has held the position of general secretary for nine years.<p>
“Women want to be active in certain activities and share their knowledge but they
are shy,” she says.<p> Roslena stressed that a union provides a platform for members
to give opinions, share knowledge, voice problems and talk about what they want
from the union, and vice versa.<p> “Without a union, there is no one to boost
employee benefits. We have labour laws but with a union, we can negotiate better
benefits.<p> “Some members are just contented with getting their pay cheques at
the end of the month but they should also know their rights and what other perks
they are entitled to,” she says.<p> “Being a good leader also means we must have
good ideas and share our experiences.”<p> <b>Inspired by her seniors</b><p> Back
when she was a student nurse in the 1970s, Khadijah Khudri would follow her seniors
when they went about doing union work.<p> “I admired these pioneers very much
and was impressed by the way they spoke up. It was so powerful,” she recalls.<p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="7" align="left" width="214"> <tr><td> <IMG SRC="images/articles/2007/03roslena.jpg" border="0" alt="">
</td></tr> <tr><td><div class="caption"><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#666666">Vital role:
Roslena Mokhtar feels strongly about women’s participation in union activities.</FONT></div></td></tr>
</table>Khadijah qualified as a nurse in 1976 and joined the union as a member.
She became a committee member in 1986 when she was promoted to staff nurse.<p>
Today, Khadijah, who is in her 50s, is the president of the Malayan Nurses Union
and strongly believes in the power of togetherness.<p> “We need to be united to
be strong and as a group, we can get what we want,” she says, adding that the
Malayan Nurses Union has about 20,000 members nationwide.<p> Khadijah also stressed
the importance of being a good role model.<p> “We must be dedicated as committee
members. When we say something we must do it, and as nurses, it’s important that
we have the right attitude towards our patients, seniors, juniors and the public,”
adds this matron at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Kuantan.<p> “We need to be good,
active leaders so that members will flourish.”<p> Khadijah shared some of the
problems her union faced.<p> “Many nurses migrate overseas or hop over to private
hospitals, so we lose members. In addition, many people only go into nursing as
a last choice. One of the reasons is the night duties which many people don’t
look forward to.”<p> As president, she has many responsibilities and is accountable
to her members.<p> “It is not easy, having to tackle various issues and problems,”
says Khadijah, who constantly keeps up-to-date with the latest information and
maintains contact with fellow unionists globally.<p> Nevertheless, she finds union
work rewarding. “It is interesting to know more people and disseminate knowledge
to members,” she concludes.<p><I>Source: http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2007/3/8/lifefocus/17051843&sec=lifefocus</I>
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com