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?
They will soon bring up the issue with the Geneva-based International Federation
of Building and Wood Workers (IFBWW).
<p>The union was engaged in a series of court battles with the state government
to secure jobs of at least 2,000 employees in the forestry department following
the privatisation of numerous department functions.</p>
<p>The union won their case in the high court but the verdict was overturned by
the court of appeals.</p>
<p><b>Livelihood at stake</b></p>
<p>Ufes president Abdul Wahab Abdullah vows to appeal against the decision at
the federal court.</p>
<p>“This concerns workers’ rights to organise and seek equal treatment,”
said Wahab, adding that he would discuss the matter with ILO officials soon.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Ufes assistant secretary Zaidi Buang, told malaysiakini that the
union had sought Suhakam’s advice regarding the abrupt termination without
compensation of 893 contract staff at the department last year.</p>
<p>These staff were on two months to one year contract which had been renewed
continuously over a period of between 10 and 20 years. According to Zaidi, the
workers cannot afford costly legal action.</p>
<p>At a recent meeting with Suhakam commissioners Prof Hamdan Adnan and Siva Subramaniam,
Ufes officials suggested the government revive the Public Service Commission
(PSC) Tribunal (dissolved in 1992) so the grievances of the department contract
staff, could be heard like in an industrial relations court.</p>
<p>Suhakam had promised to take the matter up with the relevant authorities, they
said.</p>
<p><b>Environmental holocaust</b></p>
<p>In a related development, Wahab told malaysiakini that in their complaint to
IFBWW, Ufes will also highlight the state government’s alleged violation
of section 4 of the timber certification process relating to worker’s rights
and indigenous inhabitants affected by logging activities.</p>
<p>“If this issue is not addressed it will have a significant on the state’s
timber exports,” he warned.</p>
<p>Wahab feels that more should be done to monitor the logging industry, and quoted
a European environmental group describing the current rate of global environmental
degradation caused by logging as a holocaust.</p>
<p>Wahab is a government assistant conservator of forests and a member of the
IFBWW regional forestry committee as well as the Malaysian Timber Certification
national council.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com