Malaysian Labor Unrest Brings Government Warning

From Free Malaysia Today: Malayasian Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam today, 1 Nov. 2011, warned workers not to picket against amendments to the Employment Act 1955.

“If they picket during working hours, it would be illegal and action can be taken against them by their employers for disrupting the working environment,” said Subramaniam.

“However, if workers decided to hold a peaceful gathering outside of the work place or during lunch hour, it is their fundamental right.

Dr S Subramaniam

“A strike or picket can only be done on a trade dispute. If they picket on this particular issue, it would be against the Industrial Relations Act 1967,” added Subramaniam.

Asked what sort of action an employer can take against employees who picket and disrupt work, he said it was up to the employer to decide.

He urged parties to make “rational decisions” and refrain from protesting, referring to the planned nationwide protest by Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) on Thursday.

“This issue has been falsely interpreted and manipulated and I want the people to decide who is right and who is wrong,” he said.

Subramaniam said the original term “sub-contractor for labour” was amended to “contractor for labour” to widen the definition of the word, and that it was not a new idea.

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