PETALING JAYA – Ahead of the May 1 celebration tomorrow, a coalition of labour unions has urged for reforms to protect worker rights, including a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the migrant worker recruitment system.
The Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC), which consists of 58 trade unions, said an RCI should be set up to investigate purported corrupt practices in the migrant worker centralised management system.
In a press conference here today, North-South Initiative executive director Adrian Pereira said the government should also declassify an independent special committee’s report on the management of migrant workers.
“The issue of corruption is not a straightforward issue. So, it is important for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration to make the report public, if not the same issue would persist for years to come.”
Pereira’s comment was made after the LLRC forum panel were asked whether the demand for an RCI was related to the recent investigation into alleged graft involving Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar’s top aide by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Earlier this month, MACC had arrested two of his aides – his special functions officer and private secretary – as well as a migrant worker recruitment agent. The trio have since been released.
MACC has widened its investigation to include senior officials and heads of agencies under the ministry.
Also present at the press conference today were LLRC co-chairmen N. Gopal Kishnam and Irene Xavier, among others.
Other demands outlined by LLRC included that the government ensure employers fully comply with the RM1,500 minimum wage, and provide at least 25% salary increment to workers who had served companies for a long time but did not benefit from the minimum wage system since its implementation in 2012.
They also called for the government to pass amendments to the Trade Union Act, Sabah Labour Ordinance, and Sarawak Labour Ordinance in the next parliamentary session.
Similarly, they also urge Sivakumar to provide exemption and allow migrant domestic helpers to set up a sector-wide trade union and hold office in those unions. – The Vibes, April 30, 2023
