WE commend the government for implementing the RM1,500 minimum wage decisively, but unfortunately domestic workers are again excluded. We urge the government to further amend the minimum wage order to include domestic workers.
Today, workers in Malaysia are facing a huge challenge in attaining a decent living wage and safer and healthier working environments because of a lack of bargaining power.
Firstly, we have a set of regressive and draconian labour laws inherited from the colonialists, which unreasonably restrict worker rights to form unions of their own choice and right to strike.
Second, the general population’s awareness on worker rights is low as we don’t have an effective popular labour education whether among labour groups or in our education system.
Third, the widespread violation of the rights of migrant workers, particularly forced labour, cannot longer be ignored by the labour movement.
Fourth, the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed many weaknesses of our social protection system including lack of investment in healthcare, food banks, and unemployment insurance.
To address these challenges, we must strengthen our labour movement by promoting a culture of inclusiveness and cooperation among trade unions, workers’ organisations, NGOs, and global partners.
Without a unified labour movement and a theory of change we cannot win this battle.
Therefore, we call on all trade unions, workers’ organisations, and NGOs to work closely to reform our labour laws until it is on par with the International Labour Standards. We need to work on a popular labour education as a strategy to stimulate organising and collective bargaining.
Let’s extend our solidarity with migrant workers and make efforts to fight forced labour at workplaces. We must continue to advocate for increased social expenditure to ensure a decent healthcare system, food security for all, and an adequate unemployment insurance scheme. – The Vibes, May 1, 2022
N. Gopal Kishnam is chair of the Labour Law Reform Coalition
