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?
“We are confused and have been clueless the last two years,” said
Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal, the newly appointed president of the 20 GLC unions.
<p>Even though the unions had supported the Government’s privatisation plans
from the start, Mohamed Shafie said, they were now being left in the lurch by
the new management. </p>
<p>He said 45 leaders from 20 GLC unions met last Thursday to discuss the matter
and decided to seek a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi to get an explanation and his personal assurance. </p>
<p>“We are worried over the current trend as we have not had any proper consultation
in the last two years,” he said. </p>
<p>“We feel that we are not being consulted by the companies regarding new
trends or transformation and restructuring that are being planned. </p>
<p>“It seems to us that the agenda for industrial relations and corporate
social responsibility is no longer considered important by our employers.”
</p>
<p>Highest on the unions’ list of concerns, he said, was the introduction
of the key performance indicators (KPI) and the restructuring and transformation
of the companies, many of which were helmed by new chief executive officers.
</p>
<p>This, he said, was a very disturbing trend, and had created fear among the
110,000 union members. </p>
<p>The unions, he said, had tried to cooperate with the management and the Government,
but the absence of proper consultations had resulted in members questioning
the unions’ role in protecting their rights. </p>
<p>He cited the planned retrenchment of 6,500 Malaysia Airlines employees as a
move that had distressed the unions. </p>
<p>In Kuching, the Sarawak MTUC called on AirAsia to absorb all MAS employees
who would be affected by the restructuring of the domestic air routes, reports
JACK WONG. </p>
<p>The union’s secretary Andrew Lo urged AirAsia to employ these staff on
the same terms and conditions they had had with the national air carrier, and
to accord due recognition to the union. </p>
<p>Lo said the union was especially concerned about the quality of service and
safety of travellers once AirAsia took over the non-profitable routes, like
the rural air services. </p>
<p>“To expect a listed company like AirAsia with obligations to shareholders
to operate an essential service is questionable,” he said. </p>
<p>“Already, we have heard reports that AirAsia will outsource the rural
air services, adding on another layer of cost.”
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com