Amending Trade Unions Bill will hurt unions, worker solidarity: group

KUALA LUMPUR – A group representing the interests of unions has warned that the amendment of the Trade Unions Bill 1959 would bring about a fragmentation of workers among different establishments and prevent a unified voice on issues. 

The Coalition Against Multiplicity of Unions (Camu) pointed out that the bill, if passed in Parliament, would allow more than one union to co-exist in the same or similar establishment, trade, occupation, or industry.

Its chairman Zulfakar Mohamed said the government had failed to consider the negative consequences of having a multiplicity of unions, including the erosion of solidarity among workers and the dilution of a united voice for union members.

He said that the multiplicity of unions will create inter-union rivalries in the workplace, as well as trigger instability, disharmony, and divisiveness in the workplace.

Furthermore, he said, “pinching” of members among unions will occur, and will erode the socio-economic rights of the workers. 

He warned that union-busting by employers will increase, among others.

Camu has thus called on the government to immediately hold talks with the trade unions that would be affected by the legislation.

Zulfakar took the human resources minister to task for not convening the National Labour Advisory Council to have a “formal, thorough and meaningful” social dialogue with the stakeholders for more than two years.

“The unions, being representatives of the workers, are important stakeholders in all matters concerning labour policies,” he said.

Zulfakar claimed that the government had disregarded its own Regulation Impact Analysis issued on July 15, 2013, which required consultation with relevant stakeholders prior to any proposed or amended regulations.

He said the government had ignored the International Labour Organisation’s Convention 144 on Tripartite Consultation, which requires consultation with key stakeholders on labour policies.

He pointed out that Malaysia ratified this convention on June 14, 2002.

Last week, the Labour Law Reform Coalition called on the government to immediately withdraw the fourth schedule of the Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill 2022, which insinuates that trade unions could wage wars against the state and be involved in terrorism.  

The proposed legislation was one of three bills pertaining to employment under the Human Resources Ministry that were tabled for the first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on March 24.

The others were the Employees’ Social Security (Amendment) Bill 2022 and the Employment Insurance System (Amendment) Bill 2022.

The Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill 2022, among others, seeks to amend the Trade Unions Act 1959 with the objective of removing restrictions on the formation of trade unions based on certain establishments or similarities in trade, occupation or industry to allow for a diversity of trade unions.

The Employment Insurance System (Amendment) Bill 2022, meanwhile, aims to improve social security coverage under the Employment Insurance System for employees, while the Employees’ Social Security (Amendment) Bill 2022 aims to improve social security coverage, increasing certain benefits for employees. – The Vibes, June 12, 2022