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?
Telekom Malaysia has now agreed to look at the grievances by the unions and
also agreed that the Director General of the Industrial Relations Department
will mediate between the company and the unions as per the union’s demands.
<p>The struggles of NUTE, UTES and SUTE on this issue is very fundamental and
they have upheld the trade union philosophy and human rights in defending the
Call Centre Workers in accordance with the prevailing laws of Malaysia.</p>
<p>Brother Shafie would like to extend his grateful appreciations to Philip Jennings,
UNI General Secretary and the whole UNI family for their solidarity.</p>
<p>Brother Shafie would also like to thank Bro. Neil Anderson for arranging a
teleconference from UNI Head Office with all the participants of the UNI Call
Centre Seminar and also for sending a signed statement of protest of the participants
to Telekom Malaysia management.</p>
<p>He would also like to place in record the protest and solidarity letters from
the UNI family from all over the world which had a great impact and put pressure
on the authorities to bring the company to the negotiating table.</p>
<p>Philip Jennings, UNI General Secretary said "This is positive news for
TM call centre workers in Malaysia and the pressure locally as well as globally
has made all the difference. We hope that TM will keep talking to the unions
and fully involve them in all the discussions."</p>
<p>A message to affiliates is also attached below:</p>
<p><i>Dear Colleagues,</i></p>
<p><i>Telekom Malaysia agrees to postpone In-sourcing of Call Centre Workers and
returns to the negotiating table to seek solutions with the Union.</i></p>
<p><i>On behalf of the Executive committee of the three unions involved in the
dispute over call centre workers (NUTE, UTES & SUTE) I take the opportunity
to thank each and everyone of the officials and all the UNI Affiliates who responded
immediately with Solidarity Messages and Protests to the management and the
Minister in charge of Telecommunications.</i></p>
<p><i>For your kind information, your actions were rewarded with the return of
the Company to the negotiation table to resolve the dispute with the union.</i></p>
<p><i>Thanks and Warm Fraternal Greetings</i></p>
<p><i>MOHAMED SHAFIE BP MAMMAL
President UNI-MLC</i>
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com