the blogging syed shahir

Malaysian Trade Union Congress

NEW YEAR MESSAGE

The New Year brings about a time for reflection, as well as in making some personal resolutions which many of us hope would bring about improvements to us individually and in some cases towards the betterment of society.

As part of the trade union fraternity, any resolution would involve the preservation of the dignity of workers which has of late been challenged on a number of fronts.

One major concern which the world is facing today is the growing wealth divide. Despite the global economy having grown tremendously since the end of the cold war, a vast majority of the people in this world have not seen the benefits of this growth.

This problem is prevalent in Malaysia also and is exacerbated by the diminishing rights of workers. The right of workers to join a trade union of their choice is fraught with many difficulties and impediments. Employers and the Government authorities place many obstacles in the way of trade unions seeking to represent workers to bargain on wages and benefits. Some claims sit for years at the offices of the Ministry of Human Resources without being dealt with appropriately. This time-lag allows for an abuse of union activists as well as those employees seeking to exercise their constitutional right of trade union representation.

The right to institute industrial action in the form of picketing and strikes have been challenged in the most brutal ways by employers. We have seen instances of workers being dismissed for taking industrial action - a right which is supposed to be protected under the law. Such oppressive measures cannot be left unchallenged and it is now time for the workers in this country to make a concerted effort to challenge any form of tyranny exhibited by employers.

It must come to be realized that it is the common workers which contributes to the development of any economy and there is a legitimate right for workers to demand for fair treatment and protection of their dignity. This should be safeguarded by law and the authorities entrusted to serve as the gatekeepers should not flinch in the exercise of their duties.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all workers of this country a very Happy New Year and let us make the year 2008 a year where we strive to better the lot of workers and to protect their dignity.

Syed Shahir bin Syed Mohamud

President