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?
Declaring that the current MTUC leadership was “weak and ineffective,”
a group of about 20 unions calling itself the Malaysia National Workers Organisation
(MNWO) has formed a pro tem committee to “change the face of unionism”
in the country.
<p>The move will also be a big financial setback for MTUC as each union member
from an affiliate pays RM1 annually. With an estimated 100,000 members expected
to leave MTUC, the congress’ operations will be adversely affected. </p>
<p>Currently, MTUC has a membership of 265 affiliate unions. </p>
<p>Led by Railwaymen Union of Malaya (RUM) president Abdul Razak Hassan, representatives
of the group, who appear to be sympathetic to ousted president Zainal Rampak,
met about two months ago to select a pro tem committee. </p>
<p>Abdul Razak said they expected at least 100,000 members from the breakaway
faction to join them initially but added that more were in the process of getting
their leaders to disassociate themselves from MTUC. </p>
<p>“Our next course of action is to meet and discuss with the Registrar of
Societies. We want to seek his advice on the formation of MNWO,” he told
The Star. </p>
<p>He declined further comment but said this was the first serious move that would
change the shape of unionism. </p>
<p>“Unionism is dying in the country and we want to revive and reform the
labour movement to face the changes globalisation has brought about. The current
leadership is not addressing the problem,” he said. </p>
<p>Zainal, who was at the MTUC helm for about 20 years before he was ousted in
December 2004, refuted claims that he was behind the group. </p>
<p>However, the Transport Workers Union secretary said his 12,000-strong union
had decided to join the breakaway faction as the leaders felt that the MTUC
had lost its “fangs.” </p>
<p>“But I excused myself from the committee meeting that made the decision
to leave MTUC as I did not want to be seen as being behind this,” he said.
</p>
<p>Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn, when asked about the
breakaway faction, expressed surprise. </p>
<p>“I am not aware of this. I will have to check if it is true and study
its implications,” he told The Star. </p>
<p>Despite all the bickering, leadership crisis and misunderstanding, the MTUC
has stayed together for the past 57 years. </p>
<p>MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, who admitted hearing about the move
by the group, said he was willing to meet with the dissenting group. </p>
<p>“Let’s talk and resolve any differences in the spirit of workers’
unity and solidarity. I am positive that whatever misunderstanding we have can
be resolved through dialogue,” he said. </p>
<p>Congress financial secretary A. Sivananthan said: “The MTUC, being the
national labour centre for all workers in Malaysia, is a workers’ solidarity
group and we do not want to see any disunity among the workers.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com