KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has lauded Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan for agreeing to review aspects of the Trade Unions Act 1959.
Its deputy president Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani thanked the minister, who was present at the triennial delegates’ conference (TDC), for his willingness to discuss proposed amendments to the Act.
“MTUC would like to express our gratitude to him (Saravanan) for agreeing to review the aspect of multiplicity of unions in the same or similar establishment, trade occupation or industry,” he said.
He added that the MTUC had long expressed its concerns over the suggested amendments as there are negative consequences to having a diversity of trade unions – namely the erosion of solidarity among workers and the weakening of a united workers’ union.
Calling on member associations to band together and present a united front to the government, he expressed his hopes that the authorities will engage with the organisation and other relevant stakeholders to obtain insight on the matter.
The Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill 2022, among others, seeks to amend the act to remove 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.
Previously, The Vibes reported MTUC immediate past president Datuk Abdul Halim Mansor as claiming that a general council meeting on June 26 had greenlit plans to host an orderly protest during the TDC against the proposed amendments. – The Vibes, July 2, 2022
