Parliament passes amendments to union laws

KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat has passed amendments to the Trade Union Act to allow multiple unions to be set up by workers within the same industry or trade.

“The main purpose of the amendments is to abolish the restriction on setting up trade unions, including the restriction of allowing only one union to be set up in any industry, occupation or trade,” Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar said when wrapping up his ministerial replies on the Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill in Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Oct 10).

He said that the amendments would allow a worker to join multiple unions, unless specifically prohibited from doing so.

“A union is permitted to restrict a member from joining another union and this restriction must be spelled out in its constitution.

“However, if there is no such restriction, the worker can join and hold office in any union,” he added.

The amendment removes Section 15(2) of the Trade Unions Act to allow multiplicity of trade unions in any industry, occupation or trade.

With the restriction lifted, Sivakumar said that the number of trade unions in the country is expected to increase to 800.

He said this includes an increase union membership to between 50,000 and 100,000 members.

As of June this year, he said that there were 163 unions in the government sector with 531,436 members while there were 496 unions in the private sector with 304,948 members.

Meanwhile, amendments to Section 25A(1) lowers the threshold for trade unions to carry out a strike or declare a lock out.

The union can call for a strike or declare a lock out if 60% members vote to do so and where at least more than half are in favour of the strike or lock out.

Also lowered is the age of a union membership to 15 from the previous 16 following amendments to Section 26(1).

This was in line with the Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act.

Sivakumar hoped that more workers, particularly from the private sector, will become union members in light of greater freedom given to set unions.

The Bill was later passed through a voice vote in Dewan Rakyat.