The annual Labour Day rally organised by the Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) yesterday marked the first time migrant workers were officially invited to join the auspicious event.

Some 160 Nepalis, mostly factory workers, were among the thousand strong union members who gathered at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur last night.

Spokesperson for the Nepali workers Bed Kumar Khatiwada said among the reasons for their presence was to highlight the problems faced by their community here.

He said the key grouses they faced include the difficulty in seeking redress in industrial relations disputes.

"We have many people (in Malaysia). But we are helpless. We don't speak the language here. Some of us don't (even) know about trade union," said Bed Kumar.

Foreign workers in Malaysia are not allowed to join nor form unions.

Picketing a sovereign right

MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud said his umbrella group had an understanding with it's counterpart in Nepal, General Federation of Nepalis Trade Unions (GEFONT).

"What we are seeing today (at this gathering) is that Malaysian workers are not neglecting them (migrant workers)... If both groups (local and migrant workers) fight each other, then ultimately, the employers will win," he told malaysiakini .

In his speech earlier, Syed Shahrir lambasted the police for clamping down on pickets held by union members.

He said the police must respect provisions within the Industrial Relations Act which specify the right to hold pickets when there is no more room for negotiation.

"Never once had a worker burnt down a factory. The only ones burning down their properties are towkays who are going bankrupt," he said.

He added that MTUC would soon hold discussions with the Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan to discuss the issue in detail.