An amendment to the Trade Unions Act 1959 would enable more than one union to be formed in a single workplace.
PETALING JAYA: A coalition of unions has criticised the passing of a controversial amendment to the Trade Unions Act 1959 aimed at eliminating restrictions on the formation of trade unions.
In a statement, the Coalition Against Multiplicity of Unions (Camu) said it was disappointed with the passing of the bill in the Dewan Rakyat as their concerns were not taken into account by the lawmakers, who should have “examined the bill more thoroughly”.
The bill seeks to, among others, 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.
With the amendments, more than one union can be formed in a single workplace.
Camu said it provided its feedback on the matter to several MPs, political leaders, the Speakers of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, and also to the human resources ministry through meetings with its minister and top officials.
“These leaders have completely ignored the negative consequences that will occur after this bill is passed,” said Camu chairman Rudy Rusly.
“As workers who are also Malaysian citizens paying taxes, and the ones who chose today’s leaders in the government, our views were not considered when we needed it the most.
“The negative consequences and the adverse implications if amendments to establish diversity in trade unions were passed were completely disregarded.”
Camu previously said that having numerous unions would erode unity among workers, as well as weaken their bargaining power and that of their members.
Among the unions which are members of Camu are the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE), the Railwaymen’s Union of Malaya (RUM) and the All Malayan Estates Staff Union (Amesu).
When tabling the amendment for a second reading yesterday, human resources minister V Sivakumar said the amendment was in line with the principle of freedom of association, whereby employees were free to establish or join any trade union of their choice.
Sivakumar also hoped the amendment would help create trade unions that were “healthy, mature and progressive”.
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