It is high time the Malaysian labour movement breaks loose from the legal and administrative cage which has imprisoned it for decades and push for urgent policy reforms, said a veteran unionist today.

Former secretary-general of public sector union Cuepacs, A H Ponniah, urged all trade union leaders to take stock of the situation and break the chains that are holding back the struggle to improve workers' rights.

"Enough is enough. It's time trade unions broke the yoke and thought freely about their future, and not be further dragged into the government's agenda.

"They must demand for a national policy that promotes a strong labour movement with minimal government involvement or interference in their affairs," he said in an interview with malaysiakini in Kuala Lumpur.

In order to encourage a strong labour movement, he said, the government has to get closer to international covenants on trade unions rather than straying farther and farther away.

He said the government is satisfied with maintaining the status of trade unions by keeping them "caged and imprisoned" and dancing to its tune, and "won't let it die".

"It will continue claiming the existence of the freedom of association by arguing that Malaysia has eight percent or over 800,000 unionised workers in 550 trade unions," he said.

'The right time is now'

Ponniah (photo) hoped the new leadership of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC), the private sector umbrella union, will move immediately to push hard for trade union reform.

"The right time is now. Trade union leaders must move quickly to fortify the labour movement before the situation gets any worse.

"Trade union leaders must be hell-bent on pursuing crucial reforms. No compromises. They must break free from the routine and take risks."

He said this was possible if the MTUC prioritises its goals and pushes for a national policy to strengthen the labour movement.

"Right now, it is busy solving household problems including from affiliate unions," he said.

"But I do understand the constraints as well, such as the workload borne by trade union leaders in handling the daily chores.

"It will not be easy but the MTUC leadership must be willing to take the risk of losing support in the push for a strong labour movement."

Referring to the amendments proposed to the Trade Unions Act 1959 (TUA) which draft is currently being fine-tuned, he noted the lack of urgent response from trade unions despite the extensive implications.

"I'm very surprised that the trade unions are taking it very lightly when there are grave implications if these amendments are passed," he said.

"Sadly over the years, trade unions have been throttled so much that they've learnt to live with it while continuously hoping for better times to come."

He warned the labour movement against negotiating the proposed amendments with the government, and to take a general stand instead.

"They must be careful not to be trapped into discussing minute details without realising the widening net and the tightening of screws.

"Furthermore, the government has always turned a deaf ear to trade unions," said Ponniah, cautioning all union leaders.

Lack of vision

He noted the Barisan Nasional government's history and track record of clamping down on trade unions.

"The more they clamp down, the more they want. That's the government's dictatorial management of trade unions."

He also blamed trade unions for "creating the current caged situation" which allowed the government to exploit their organisational weaknesses.

"This is the ramification arising from a lack of vision among trade unions. They should just go by their own vision for workers and the labour movement instead of tailing behind the government."

He said the MTUC leadership must start demanding for a national policy on a strong labour movement which will give them full labour rights.

Failing this, he urged the MTUC as the national labour centre to file a complaint with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) if the government's anti-union stance remains firm.

"Take it to the ILO all the way. If necessary, demand for a mission to visit Malaysia and prepare a comprehensive report on the prevailing labour situation."

Ponniah said that although an ILO mission to Malaysia is only possible through official invitation, he feels the government would prefer a good international image in light of globalisation.

He said the last time an ILO mission visited Malaysia more than 40 years ago, it produced a report that called for a cutback in government involvement in trade union affairs, but this went unheeded.