Helen Mary's two daughters aged 17 and 18 were forced to put their studies on hold after she was allegedly sacked for her involvement in a union.

If the family's sole breadwinner remained unemployed, her two other children aged 14 and 7 might have to drop out of school as well.

Last May, the 39-year-old former assistant supervisor in an electronic factory in Perak was sacked for allegedly 'disclosing company secrets to unauthorised persons'.

Mary ( left ) had worked in the factory for 11 years. She claimed that her dismissal was related to her union activities.

Yesterday, Mary together with 20 members of the factory workers and unions coalition (GPKK) brought their grouses to the attention of Deputy Human Resources Minister Abdul Rahman Bakar during a meeting in Putrajaya.

The meeting followed a memorandum sent by GPKK to the ministry in January 2006 regarding four issues: union members and leaders being victimised by the management, workers being forced to stand throughout working hours, four-hour compulsory overtime and recruitment of foreign labour.

After investigations, the ministry in February replied to the coalition that a number of the allegations raised in the documented cases were unfounded.

This led the disgruntled coalition members to bring the evidence to the ministry's doorstep yesterday.

Eyewash at factories

"The investigating officials did not see the actual situation because the management was informed before their arrival," said GPKK secretary V Nathan ( photo ) when met later.

According to him, in one of the factories investigated, the management provided chairs and ear plugs to the workers 10 minutes before ministry officials arrived and retrieved them immediately after they left.

"During the investigation, workers were called to state their complaints in front of the management, of course they dared not tell the actual situation," he said.

He claimed that at least 17 factories in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Perak practice the all-time standing policy which violated the Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health for Standing at work.

GPKK coordinator Sarasvathy Muthu said although workers had the right to organise unions, only eight percent of the nation's factory workers were unionised because the process to register a union was extremely difficult.

"After registering with the ministry, we need to get at least 51 percent of the workers to become members and also the recognition by the employer," she explained.

"If the employer refuses to recognise, we can bring the case to the ministry but the employer also can challenge the ministry's decision in court. The whole process takes three to five years."

"Once the workers are found to be involved in union activities, they will be victimised like what happened to Helen (Mary), so they are too scared to establish or join an union," she added.

GPKK has urged the ministry to amend the Industrial Relations Act to enable unions to be established automatically but the ministry has maintained the need for employers consent.

Fruitful meeting

Commenting on the hour-long meeting, Sarasvathy said Abdul Rahman conceded that the ministry had made wrong conclusions in its reply and that its officers did not carry out their job properly.

"I think this is a fruitful meeting. He promised us that his ministry will reinvestigate the factories through spot checks and they will contact our members before investigation is carried out.

"The ministry will also investigate the factories listed by us which victimise union members," she added.

On amending the law, Sarasvathy said the deputy minister told them that the matter has been brought to the cabinet's attention.

Abdul Rahman was not available for comment.

Meanwhile, Mary in relating her hardship, said she found a new job in another factory but was sacked five days later because her former employer had allegedly informed her new employer about her union activities.

"I have withdrawn my EPF (Employees Provident Fund) to pay for my house loan last year, I don't know how to pay the loan for this year.

"I'm 39 already, usually factories will not hire someone older than 35, I need to get back my job (from the former factory)," she said.