Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
Labour Day, or May Day as some may call it, renews the commitment of the working class to stand in solidarity against the exploitative nature of capitalism. Whilst in Malaysia we have seen the reduction of sweat-shops, exploitation has taken on a different and more sophisticated form.
As we celebrate Labour Day this year, it is imperative for us to reflect upon the challenges which we, the working class, are faced with.
Globalization, used by the proponents of an uncaring form of capitalism, has been used as a tool to internationalize the exploitation of workers. Governments are increasingly playing a secondary role to Trans-National Corporations (TNCs). The objectives of TNCs are one and the same, which is to maximize profits. They have no qualms about doing it at the expense of the masses, and Governments are succumbing to the strength of the TNC dollar.
The divide between the haves and the have-nots have increased since the advent of globalization. There are many more people in the world which are being pushed to the fringes of poverty, all in the name of lowering of costs to maximize profits.
Investors are portrayed as sacred cows, with the masses being warned so as not to incur their wrath. Demands for wage increases, the legitimate and inalienable right of all workers, are being touted as `wrong’. Management would rather that Unions make an appeal with a whisper and allow discretions or charity to be exercised by those who own the means of production.
The position of the working class in our modern society has been cheapened to such an extent that Management would come up with various ingenious schemes to take the initiative away from organized labour.
The protection accorded to workers in this country are being diminished, all in the name of giving greater leeway to capital to exercise its every whims and fancies freely.
The main areas which need to be accorded attention to are :
a. Claims for Recognition by Unions
This would rate as the pulse of trade unionism. Unfortunately, the Government bureaucracy is being used as an excuse to delay claims of recognition by Unions to represent workers in Companies. It is not uncommon for such claims to be laying idle at the desks of the officials of the Ministry of Human Resources for years. I would venture to say that if no pressure is applied, the claims would not be processed.
The process for determining as to whether the Unions have a majority to represent workers in a Company, as prescribed by the law, leaves much to be desired. Very little protection, if any, is given to the more active members where they are faced with victimization schemes by their Companies.
The MTUC is calling for a more transparent and speedier system to deal with claims for recognitions by Unions.
b. Minimum Wage
The absence of a minimum wage in this country would speak volumes of the status that the common worker occupies in the make-up of society. Where less progressive nations such as Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam and even a supposedly low labour-cost haven like China have in place a minimum wage mechanism, there is no good reasons as to why Malaysia cannot have one.
A minimum wage, which is revised periodically, would ensure that no citizen of the country would have to work at a wage level which would not allow him to take care of his and his family’s basic needs. It certainly cannot be too much to ask.
It is pointless to have in place such mega-projects which often turn out as white elephants when we compromise on our social institutions.
c. Lack of Consultation with Workers’ Representatives on National Level Policies
Workers in this country make up the majority. Yet, it would seem that the decision-making powers are vested in the hands of a very few. This has given rise to an elitist form of Governance, which is not in the interest of the general public.
Workers’ Representatives should be consulted on all issues affecting them, be it the issue on foreign labour, amendments to legislations and the like. Any decision made after consultation and deliberation would more likely be palatable to the public at large.
There are many other issues but it would suffice for me to raise the ones as I raised above for the purposes of this year’s May Day.
The need for workers solidarity is as apparent today as it was when our brothers and sisters from the trade union movements of the generations before us fought for the 8-hour working day, one-rest day in a week, healthy working conditions, etc.
We are today faced with the scourge of globalization, where the wages of workers internationally are being depressed. Outsourcing is one of the means to lower wages, where jobs are shifted to lower labour-cost countries. The shifts would continue to take place. If China is the place to be now, we could all be rest assured that there would be a shift away from China in time to come – when the cost of labour there rises. The bottom of the barrel is unknown, where in the meantime families are being challenged to make ends meet and their quality of life being compromised on.
We should all now take greater pains to increase the membership of Unions to accord workers greater protection. The increase in numbers would also allow for greater resistance to be put up against the might of capital.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com