KUALA LUMPUR: The Social Protection Contributors' Advisory Association Malaysia (SPCAAM) has condemned allowing the multiplicity of trade unions in any establishment or industry as a regression for workers' rights in the long run.
Calling the trade union bill a calculated move, the association's international labour adviser Callistus Antony D'Angelus said the amendments were portrayed as if they promoted an expansion of trade unionism in the country, when in fact they did not.
"What is bound to happen is that unions will be spending time competing amongst themselves for members, and consequently, that will weaken workers' collective bargaining power as employers could favour unions they believe would be more compliant.
"Just like the promotion of inhouse unions during the first Mahathir (former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) administration, this is another step towards quelling the presence of the trade union movement," he said.
Callistus criticised the system for allowing and even encouraging the exploitation of workers, depression of wages and suppression of workers' rights.
"Looking at it in terms of a longer horizon, it would only emasculate workers' ability to deal with employers on an even keel. At a time when we are looking to strengthen governance in the country, this seems to go in the opposite direction," he said.
On Oct 10, the Dewan Rakyat passed the amendment to the Trade Union Bill (Act 262) to recognise the formation of trade unions.
"It aims to create a legal framework that supports the establishment and administration of mature, progressive, and relevant trade unions in addition to ensuring the quality of the protection of workers' rights in Malaysia, by taking into account the principles outlined under international labour standards," said Human Resource Minister V. Sivakumar.
Callistus urged Sivakumar to clarify his remark while questioning the real intention of the amendments.
"He should elaborate as to what he means by it. Does he want trade unions to serve as supplicants to employers and the government?
"Sadly, it seems like the rights of workers are not on the agenda of the government," he said.