November 3, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR: About 200 Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) members gathered at the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) headquarters today to protest against the recent amendments to the Employment Act.
Among the MTUC affiliates which attended the picket were the National Union of
Banking Employees (NUBE), Malaysian Trade Union Rights Network (PSI) and EPF Employees Union.
However, the turnout is lower than the projection made by MTUC president Khalid Atan, who expected 500 people to show up.
The crowd chanted “Long Live Workers” to the accompaniment of kompang, creating an almost festive-like celebration while police kept watch. Motorists also honked their horns in support.
Also present were DAP stalwarts Lim Kit Siang and M Kulasegaran who were joined by Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general S Arutchelvan, PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar and Oppressed People’s Network (Jerit) coordinator E Nalini.
Trade unions alleged that the amendments would further erode workers’ rights in Malaysia.
Last month, Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam tabled the controversial amendments in Parliament despite widespread objection by MTUC and the opposition parties.
The MTUC had organised a peaceful protest against the amendments at the Parliament entrance last month, which was attended by about 100 people.
‘Retract amendments’
Trade unions claimed that the new amendments would absolve employers of any responsibility to their workers as the latter would come under the purview of the recruitment agency.
The MTUC said the amendments would also allow employers to delay overtime payment by a month, which would affect the low-income group.
Later at a press conference, Khalid said the nationwide picketing by the MTUC showed that the trade unions were serious in strongly opposing the amendments.
“We have fought for many years against exploitation of workers but now we have the government legalising it,” he said.
He urged the human resources ministry to retract the amendments and return to the negotiating table with the MTUC.
On the presence of opposition members, Khalid said the gathering was bipartisan and anyone was welcome to join it.
“They (opposition members) said they would give us their support, so we allow them to join us,” he said.
Khalid, however, defended today’s picket, saying it was a success despite the low turn-out.
The crowd dispersed peacefully at 6.30pm.
Fight not over
In PENANG, some 500 braved a heavy downpour to hold a 90-minute peaceful demonstration against the amendments outside the Prai TNB premises in Jalan Baru.
They held up anti-amendment banners, chanted pro-workers’ slogans and demanded that the government repeal the amendments under the watchful eyes of the police.
MTUC state chairman S Ravindran, who led the picket, said MTUC would fight on until the amendments were banished.
“The fight is not over with one picket.
“There are more protests to come until the government abolishes the changes,” he told workers with a loud hailer before dispersing the crowd.
One notable absentee at the picket was Opposition Leader and Permatang Pauh MP Anwar Ibrahim who was said he would show up.
Meanwhile, a former trade union leader today urged the government to amend the Trade Unions Act 1959 to allow unionists to hold top positions in both the trade unions and political parties.
MTUC Penang chapter’s former chairman Abdul Razak Hamid said the government should repeal the prohibition, which was enforced when Section 25 of the Act was amended immediately after 1969 racial riots.
“But the government has been playing a deaf and dumb game until today,” said Abdul Razak, a former MTUC national vice-president.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/11/03/low-turnout-at-labour-laws-protest/
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