The Malaysian Trades Union Congress has accepted the DAP's offer to raise labour issues in the coming parliamentary session due to the further erosion of workers' rights caused by the government's failure to resolve long-standing issues.

G Rajasekaran, secretary-general of the umbrella body for the country's labour movement, said this was necessary because an increasing number of workers have lost their rights to the vagaries of globalisation and left at the mercy of giant corporations.

Speaking to reporters after a two-hour dialogue with members of the newly-formed DAP Human Resources Committee in Petaling Jaya, he said the problem was compounded by bad local management practices, bureaucracy, lack of enforcement and a failed arbitration system.

"We welcome the DAP's offer to raise labour issues in Parliament. The government, we know, will want us to discuss these issues with them instead of seeking the help from the opposition," he said.

"But this situation is due to its own failure in addressing labour issues promptly, seriously and conclusively."

The dialogue was initiated by the DAP which is gearing up towards presenting a more effective debate in the Dewan Rakyat and state legislative assemblies.

Facts of issues

Rajasekaran said the MTUC will gather facts of major outstanding issues to be forwarded to the committee for deliberations before the new parliamentary meeting.

The first meeting of the 11 th Parliament begins on May 17.

The committee is chaired by Ipoh Barat MP M Kula Segaran (photo left), and several DAP MPs and non-party representatives from the trade union sector.

DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang said this was the first of many consultations planned with specific special interest groups.

"This human resources committee is the first one to tackle labour issues which is going to play a central and pivotal role in the years to come," he said.

"We hope to hold more discussions with the MTUC and other interest groups before each parliamentary session to set the labour agenda for all."

Lim said it would be too presumptuous for the DAP to form a shadow cabinet.

"But we are trying to be professional and play a more effective role in parliament."

Referring to the earlier dialogue with trade union leaders present, he said there were pressing issues which needed immediate attention and action from the government.

Among them are the ongoing banking sector union's leadership crisis, problems arising from the influx of foreign workers in the local job market and several controversies involving the industrial court.

A disgrace

Lim described the problems afflicting the NUBE as "shameful and a disgrace to industrial relations in the country".

"At one time, the NUBE was the best union in the region. But now, it is not only technically illegal, the crisis has also been dragging on for three years.

"How can the government allow this to go on for so long?"

He urged Human Resources Minister Dr Fong Chan Onn to end the disgrace by giving his immediate and personal attention to protect the 28,000-odd members who are currently undergoing untold suffering as a consequence of the internal feud.

Noting the extensive delay in the present arbitration system, Lim said this was not what parliament had intended when the industrial court was set up.

"I was told that currently, it takes 8-10 years from the moment of filing a trade dispute until it is disposed at the highest court.

"Even the appointment of court chairpersons are not without problems," he said, referring to the controversial appointment of former Taiko Plantation Group director N Rajasegaran early this year.

The appointment was challenged and is currently pending in the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

During the dialogue, the DAP committee was briefed on a number of issues affecting workers in the manufacturing sector, seaport, banking and plantation.

Union leaders also complained about government red-tape and lax enforcement, including allegations of labour officers shirking their responsibility by signing off as having inspected the premises when in fact, they would meet the employer at a restaurant.

They also raised the fact that no employer has every been prosecuted by the Industrial Relations Department for failing to honour an award made by an industrial court in favour of workers.

Another was the fact that the Employees Provident Fund has never prosecuted any company for a criminal breach of trust when many companies have flouted the law by failing to remit the employee's portion of the contribution.