KUCHING: Delegates to the 5th triennial delegates’ conference of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Sarawak division unanimously adopted a resolution calling on the state government to ensure that state government-linked companies respect the rights of their employees to join trade unions and fully participate in their activities.
A statement released by MTUC Sarawak yesterday said it was embarrassing that even with the Minister of Human Resource coming from Sarawak, several state-linked companies have still not embraced positive working relationship with their employees’ unions.
“Some HR managers in these companies do not appear to appreciate the fact that having an effective and responsible trade union in their organisation will benefit all stakeholders, including the government.
“Some even chided unions for defending their members against unfair dismissal, while others dismissed union officials for performing their trade union duties,” MTUC Sarawak secretary Andrew Lo said.
He added such action might compromise the ongoing Malaysian negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) as labour standards were a part of the negotiations.
The resolution was adopted by 70 delegates representing 31 unions throughout Sarawak during the TDC held on Aug 21 at the Union Yes Retreat & Training Centre in Lundu.
Director of trades union in Sarawak, Jamilah Putit, officiated at the conference.
Mohd Ibrahim Hamid of Union of Telecoms Employees Sarawak (UTES) was re-elected MTUC Sarawak chairman for another three years. Also re-elected was Lo from Sarawak Bank Employees Union (SBEU) who was retained as secretary.
Also elected are Zaidi Bujang from Union of Forest Department Employees (UFES) as vice-chairman, Law Kait Min (SBEU) as assistant secretary, Chong Jan Kim (UTES) treasurer, Hadiah Leen (SBEU) women head, Amy Liew – youth head, Kirian Kaka (Bintulu Port) as Bintulu representative and Amin Adel (Miri Municipal Council Union) as Miri representative.