The national leadership of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress seems to have abdicated its fiduciary responsibility at a time when various concerned groups are calling for the enforcement of the national minimum wage for the most vulnerable segment of workers.
The concerned groups that have taken the lead are Jaringan Pekerja Kontrak Kerajaan (the government contract workers network or JPPK), the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM), concerned individual trade unions and other components of civil society.
As the apex workers’ organisation, the national MTUC leadership is expected to be at the forefront in the pursuit of compliance of the law, whether it pertains to the minimum wage or the reduction of the workweek to 45 hours.
Outrageously, the current national MTUC leadership, unlike in the past, has not appeared to have lifted a finger in challenging the abuses perpetuated by employers on fundamental issues such as the implementation of the minimum wage and the absolute reduction of the workweek to 45 hours.
While JPKK, PSM and concerned civil society groups protested before the prime minister’s office to highlight non-compliance of the law, the MTUC national leadership has remained domesticated over the matter.
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The current national MTUC leadership seems to have wrapped itself in a cocoon – living di bawah tempurung (under a coconut shell), oblivious to the plight of the workers!
It has neither the conviction to assemble the numbers to mount a protest against recalcitrant employers or the establishment. Taking to the streets, apparently, is not in its mindset nor in its dictionary.
It lacks the enthusiasm, conviction and courage to embark on a plan of action against uncaring employers and the government’s failure to enforce acts of Parliament.
So we need to consider whether an alternative national trade union centre is needed to safeguard, promote and articulate the interests of employees in the private sector – who are undoubtedly the engine of the country’s economic growth.
Decades ago, an attempt was made to form a national trade unions centre to represent workers in the private sector – with the acronym CUPS, ie congress of unions in the private sector.
Given the abject failure of the national MTUC leadership in addressing basic issues confronting private sector employees such as employers’ refusal to implement the national minimum wage and the 45-hour workweek, the formation of a congress of unions in the private sector may well be appropriate.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
Well said Sir, the MTUC of the 70s is now a lost identity. Political affiliation however small n simply did not bode well for workers at large. It’s definitely time for the birth of a new common front to revisit n revise worker’s rights movement.
The MTUC has been dead for years in my opinion even with all the knowledge and support of the ITUC and its predecessor, the ICFTU.