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?
During a Workers’ Day rally here yesterday, Cuepacs president Nordin Abdul
Hamid said the civil service umbrella union was concerned that this would lead
to a "weakening" of trade unions.
<p>The recommendation to change the Trade Unions Act 1959 will empower the DGTU
to directly intervene and resolve any long-standing dispute. </p>
<p>This is the first time Cuepacs has openly voiced its fears over the proposed
amendment, which the Government had said it would push for to avoid another
protracted leadership struggle as that experienced by the National Union of
Bank Employees. </p>
<p>Nordin said: "We have been asked by the Trade Unions Department at the
Human Resources Ministry along with MTUC to give our opinion over the proposed
amendment and we have told them our fears that such a change can lead to the
abuse of power by DGTU, which in turn can weaken trade unions. </p>
<p>"The DGTU (Mohd Zubir Mohd Basri) in a seminar with Cuepacs yesterday
assured us that the power will not be abused. Our concern is that he may hold
his word but what about the next DGTU? </p>
<p>"So, we have asked the ministry to review its plans to amend the Act,"
he said here yesterday. </p>
<p>Cuepacs organised the rally at the Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kampung Baru, attended
by some 500 government employees. </p>
<p>Nordin said the country had progressed into becoming a more developed nation
according to its own "mould". </p>
<p>"Similarly, our trade unions must also be allowed to grow according to
their own pace," he said. </p>
<p>Cuepacs, he said, would continue to bring up to the Government the matter of
Assessment of Efficiency Level (PTK) test and for civil servants to be paid
13 months’ salary a year. </p>
<p>"We work 52 weeks each year yet we are only paid for 12 months, that is,
48 weeks. So, we want to be remunerated for the last four weeks. </p>
<p>"On the PTK, we have suggested other alternatives to gauge a civil servant’s
competence, such as interviews, practical work and course participation,"
he said, adding that the union was also waiting for the Government to release
its PTK results for last year. </p>
<p>Other issues brought up by Cuepacs, Nordin said, included the decision by the
Government to implement an increase in public transport fares for taxis and
buses. </p>
<p>"Some of our members, especially those with SPM qualifications, earn only
around RM600 to RM700 per month. Such an increase will hugely affect their living
costs, particularly those living in the Klang Valley and big towns," he
said. </p>
<p>Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn said the ministry would amend
the laws to improve working conditions, social security and industrial relations.
</p>
<p>Focus would be given to skills training and workers’ rights, he said in his
Workers’ Day message.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com