GEORGE TOWN – As many Malaysians are the descendants of people who were brought into the country in a form of slavery by the British colonial government, it only makes sense that its citizens have more empathy for the plight of forced labourers in the nation, said P. Ramasamy.
In light of the Labour Day celebration today, Penang’s deputy chief minister II noted that Malaysians’ forefathers had broken their backs toiling in the plantations, estates, and tin mines, so it should only make sense that their children’s children take more steps to battle forced labour.
“There were no workers’ rights back then and we are the product of them toiling and sacrificing for us and the country,” said
He added that even though the country has done fairly well in addressing the misfortunes and issues some of these labourers face, there is still room for improvement when it comes to national policies and their enforcement.
The Prai assemblyman also stressed that the proposed debate with Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan is not about scoring political points nor slamming MIC or Barisan Nasional.
“But it is to provide an alternative perspective of how best the country can address forced labour. It is an issue that may take an eternity to resolve. Since mankind began, some have always exploited the other.”
Ramasamy said he respects Saravanan’s views, but he plans on using the debate as a platform to cultivate new strategies to address forced labour – particularly among the new economic migrants while attending to the concerns and pressure from international labour regulators.
He also pointed out that inviting the International Labour Organisation and US embassy to observe the debate on forced labour or human trafficking would not resolve the long-standing issue in the country.
This is simply because each party has its specific agenda and cause, he said.
“Labour Day is a day to celebrate not just the victory of workers against their exploitation both in the past and the present. It is also about looking at the future of the working class, their struggles, and challenges,” said Ramasamy.
The lecturer-turned-politician, who completed his doctorate thesis on labour in the plantation sector, said that the numerical increase of the working class has not been met with unionisation.
On the contrary, union-busting seems to be the norm.
“Unionisation seems to be taboo in some sectors of the economy. Even some multinational companies are against unionisation,” said Ramasamy.
Less than 8% of nearly 16 million workers in the country are unionised, he pointed out.
He said that the issue of forced labour can be resolved best if all parties, including union representatives, find more independent and dignified solutions.
“Labour Day today is a sad reminder that wages for workers have not increased to keep pace with inflation and productivity of labour,” Ramasamy said.
The employers’ productivity argument against wage increase is just a cunning ploy to thwart decent wage increase for labour, he claimed.
The emancipation of labour means putting the nation on a firm trajectory of progress and development, he said, adding that no nation can boast success if half its population is neglected and exploited – The Vibes, May 1, 2022
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