Malaysia’s violation of trade union and workers’ rights came under fire from Brussels-based International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in its annual survey of trade union rights violations.

DRB-Hicom picket workers Even participation in peaceful strikes and pickets can be dangerous in Malaysia, while large multinational companies were free to violate workers’ rights or weaken unions through dismissals and job reclassifications.

ITUC, which surveyed 138 countries to ascertain the state of trade union rights in 2007, cited the 'anti-union violence' that broke out on Apr 17 in Melaka when police used force to disperse a peaceful picket organised by Panasonic employees.

The organisation representing 168 million workers in 155 countries and territories - with 311 national affiliates - alleged that British American Tobacco (BAT) impaired its union through dismissals and reclassifying union members as management personnel while not changing job specifications.

Therefore BAT’s ‘process specialist’ who were previously ‘process technicians’ - had to become part of management and cease to be a member of the union, or risk losing their jobs.

johor baharu may day workers rally 010507 crowd Similarly 250 of the company’s trade, marketing and distribution representatives through the same method found themselves de-unionised, explained ITUC.

In October 2007, BAT barred employees of two wholly-owned subsidiaries - Tobacco Importers and Manufacturers Sdn Bhd and Commercial Marketing and Distributors Sdn Bhd - from BAT Union membership.

These and other moves - including the outsourcing of its technical service department and the firing of its unionised personnel - has reduced the membership of BAT’s workers’ union to little more than two dozen people.

Rela instrusion

bangladesh foreign workers migrants 030108 ITUC criticised Malaysia for denying basic protection to foreign workers, citing the operations of the people’s volunteer corps Rela against undocumented migrants.

"(The) volunteer corps of civilians was involved in a series of human rights violations against migrant workers, who make up 15 to 20% of the workforce," said ITUC.

The international labour group was equally concerned that employers have greater power and ability - thanks to the government obstructing legal recognition of trade unions through its amendments of the 1959 Trade Unions Act and 1967 Industrial Relations Act.