Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) is upset that it was not consulted for the final draft of two bills that contains changes to laws which it claimed would not be favourable to workers.

The Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill and the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill went through its first reading in Parliament on Tuesday.

"It felt like a bomb that exploded," MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud told a press conference in Parliament lobby today.

"The news came as a shock. MTUC represents a large group, an overwhelming fact the government should respect," he said.

Syed Shahir wants the bills to be postponed until workers unions, major private firms and the government are consulted. MTUC represents 10 million workers nationwide. * [ correction below]

"If we believe in the concept of tripartism and democracy, MTUC should not be regarded as an organisation that can be sidelined just like that," he said.

Mockery of the system

MTUC officials met parliamentarians for an hour on the issue today. The union said all MPs were invited, but only the Opposition turned up.

Present were Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang, DAP legislators M Kulasegaran, Chow Kon Yeow and PAS MP Ismail Noh.

Lim described the move as "arbitrarily unilateral" on the part of Human Resource Minister Dr Fong Chan Onn.

"Although it is a final prerogative [by the ministry] to decide on the final draft ... they [workers movement] should be allowed to give their views."

"It is shocking to hear from Syed Shahir that the pros and cons were never canvassed in a tripartite discussion. [The ministry] rushed the bill, together with the new provisions and makes a mockery of the system."

Lim wants the bill to be referred to a parliamentary select committee before the second reading.

Kulasegaran said provisions which were not favourable included a payment scheme that's limited to 48 weeks a year, instead of 52.

He added that new amendments would allow industrial courts to drop cases when the complainant dies. He said he would move a motion under Order 54 of the Standing Orders to refer the bill to a select committee.

Meanwhile, Syed Shahir said housemaids are exempted from minimum wage, under the Workers Act 1955. He said MTUC's primary concern is the "millions of workers" in retail, electronics and the service sector.

He said countries in the surrounding regions, except for Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia have minimum wage and that foreign investors would not be deterred.

"Whether you have minimum wage or not the foreign investors will leave," he said.

On allegations that MTUC leaders have ulterior motives in pushing for minimum wage, Syed said, "What hidden agenda are we talking about. Nobody is stopping anyone contesting in any election.

"There are several hundred members of the ruling party who are now in MTUC. Are they saying they are being manipulated, my predecessor is or was from the ruling party. Is it a crime to be in a party?" he said.

*CORRECTION : MTUC has 500,000 members from 260 unions nationwide. The error is regretted.