MALAYSIAN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS EMPLOYMENT LAW Author Maimunah Aminuddin
















- Slides: 16
MALAYSIAN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS & EMPLOYMENT LAW Author: Maimunah Aminuddin Chapter Five Trade Unions Malaysian Industrial Relations & Employment Law 1
Preview p Reasons for joining a trade union p Purpose of trade unions p Definition of “trade union” p Membership of a trade union p Registration of trade unions p Control of trade unions p Current status of trade unions p The MTUC and the MEF Malaysian Industrial Relations & Employment Law 2
Reasons for joining a trade union Employees join trade unions: q To improve their economic situation q To ensure their rights at work are protected q For social reasons Malaysian Industrial Relations & Employment Law 3
Purpose of trade unions p p To promote the interests of their members and working people in general To promote employee-friendly legislation To promote the economic, social and educational welfare of their members To protect the rights of their members at the workplace Malaysian Industrial Relations & Employment Law 4
Definition of trade union The legal definition of “Trade Union” in the Trade Unions Act has implications: q q q Membership of a union is limited to workers working in Peninsular Malaysia, or Sabah or Sarawak Unions with membership from a variety of industries not permitted Employers can form unions Malaysian Industrial Relations & Employment Law 5
Membership of a trade union Trade unions of workers Membership open to: q q Employees over age of 16 Employees working in the relevant trade, occupation or industry Public sector workers can only join a union whose members work in the same Ministry or Department Statutory body employees can only join an in-house union Malaysian Industrial Relations & Employment Law 6
Membership of a trade union, cont. Police, Armed Forces and Prison service employees can. NOT join any trade union. Malaysian Industrial Relations & Employment Law 7
Membership of a trade union, cont. Managers, Executives, Confidential Staff and Security Staff can only join a union whose members are in the same category. Malaysian Industrial Relations & Employment Law 8
Registration of a trade union All trade unions must apply to be registered within one month of formation. q Registration is controlled by the Director General of Trade Unions (DGTU), Ministry of HR. q DGTU has extensive powers to register, reject an application and de-register an existing union. q Malaysian Industrial Relations & Employment Law 9
Control of trade unions Other than registration, unions activities are controlled through: q Limitations on use of union funds and need to submit audited annual accounts to DGTU q Rules relating to who can be elected as a union executive officer q Rules relating to who can serve as an employee of a union Malaysian Industrial Relations & Employment Law 10
Current status of trade unions in Malaysia q Number of unions steadily growing q Number of members increasing q Density reducing q Most unions have less than 500 members q Two types of union – national and in-house Malaysian Industrial Relations & Employment Law 11
Key players other than employee TUs Employers’ Associations: p The Malaysian Trades Union Congress p The Malaysian Employers Federation Malaysian Industrial Relations & Employment Law 12
Key players other than employee TUs, cont. Employers’ Associations Some employers have formed and joined a trade union, e. g. : q MAPA q MCBA q AIE Malaysian Industrial Relations & Employment Law 13
Key players other than employee TUs, cont. The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) q q q The MTUC is NOT a trade union. It is registered under the Societies Act. The MTUC’s members are trade union from a variety of industries. The MTUC speaks on behalf of unions and workers on issues related to the welfare of workers. Malaysian Industrial Relations & Employment Law 14
Key players other than employee TUs, cont. The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) q The MEF is NOT a trade union. q The MEF speaks on behalf of employers. q The MEF carries out research. q The MEF advises its members on employment related issues. Malaysian Industrial Relations & Employment Law 15
Review p Reasons for joining a trade union p Purpose of trade unions p Definition of “trade union” p Membership of a trade union p Registration of trade unions p Control of trade unions p Current status of trade unions p The MTUC and the MEF Malaysian Industrial Relations & Employment Law 16
















