And, it is 3rd November, 2011 and the nationwide protest by MTUC against the proposed labour law amendments will apparently be happening from 5pm onwards... Remember also that now 115 groups from all over the world is also against this amendment [see: International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco ..... (IUF) makes it 115 that wants the amendments to Employment Act withdrawn]
NUPW is concerned about workers in the Plantation Sector - but they are for direct employment, and, I believe that they really would be against this amendment [see:-NUPW want contractors/sub-contractors of work registered - Not for labour suppliers (contractors for labour) becoming employers]. Their concerns will not be effectively addressed by these current amendments - but may really create much more problems for workers.
MTUC to picket nationwide tomorrow
Union boss Khalid Atan says authorities have been notified and expects no less than 500 members at each of the 18 venues in protest against the newly amended Employment Act.
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) released the venues for its nationwide picket in protest against amendments made to the Employment Act 1955.
MTUC president Khalid Atan said MTUC, which has about 800,000 members, would be picketing at about 18 locations starting tomorrow.
“We are expecting no less than 500 people to gather at each of the location nationwide,” said Khalid.
In Selangor, it will be held in Section 15, Shah Alam; Teluk Panglima Garang, Banting; along the Federal Highway; Jalan Barat, Petaling Jaya; Bukit Raja, Klang; Sungai Choh, Rawang.
In Kuala Lumpur, Khalid would be leading the picket in front of the Employees Provident Fund (KWSP) building at Jalan Raja Laut.
In other states, it has chosen single venues for the picket from 5 to 6.30pm. The other venues are the Pearl View Hotel in Prai, Penang; Jalan Bukit Beruang, Melaka; Kota Baru Trade Centre in Kelantan; 5th Mile Jalan Skudai in Johor; Majlis Perbandaran Seremban field in Negeri Sembilan; MTUC building in Ipoh, Perak; Sime Tyres International in Mergong, Kedah; Tang Dynasty Hotel in Kota Kinabalu.
Pickets would also be held in Kuching, Sarawak. The locations, however, have yet to be confirmed.The picket is the second by MTUC against the amendments that were passed on Oct 7.
The first was held Oct 3. MTUC is opposing certain articles in the amendment that waives employers of their responsibilities to compensate retrenched workers.
The amended articles would also allow employers to delay overtime payments to workers by a month.
“There won’t be ceramah or marching. It will be just a peaceful gathering,” said Khalid, and added that the MTUC did not apply for permits to hold the picket.
“We informed the police via letter last week on the venues for the picket so that they can deploy their men to ensure there is no disruption to traffic flow,” he said. - Free Malaysia Today, 2/11/2011, MTUC to picket nationwide tomorrow
Hindraf slams labour law amendments
Calling it feudal labour policies, Hindraf's chief P Waythamoorthy claims that the changes will revive the colonial system.
GEORGE TOWN: Hindraf Makkal Sakti has joined the growing chorus against the amendments to the Employment Act 1955, calling on the Putrajaya administration to scrap the changes.
Hindraf Makkal Sakti supremo P Waythamoorthy insisted that the changes would revive the dismantled colonial system in which indentured labourers were brought in from India and exploited in this country to benefit the ruling class.
The London-based leader described the amendments as feudal labour policies in which the rich would mercilessly exploit the working class to get richer.
He dismissed the government’s claim that the changes would reform the labour system, pointing out that the changes were pro-capitalist policies designed to benefit the ruling elites and their rich cronies.
“The working class will remain as the downtrodden society. The government should scrap the amendments and introduce liberal policies for the workforce.
“Amendments should be made to strengthen workers’ rights, interests and benefits, not to deprive them,” Waythamoorthy told FMT.
Critics, especially trade unionists, have claimed that the labour law amendments would exploit workers and benefit political cronies.
They claimed that amendments would promote outsourcing of workers to middlemen without providing any protection for the workers.
Waythamoorthy said the outsourcing formula was similar to issuing taxi permits to Umno and other Barisan Nasional cronies, in which the working class taxi operators benefit little.
‘Return to slavery’
Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam said that the ministry had gone through rigorous consultation with various parties, including workers’ representative the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC).
He defended the amendments, saying that it was not intended to promote or institutionalise contractors for labour.
He said that it was to ensure workers’ rights were protected when all outsource agents were registered and monitored.
But union groups called the amendments a “return to slavery”, “anti-worker” and “anti-union”.
MTUC had staged a picket outside Parliament and would be organising a nationwide picket against the amendments today.
Stressing on the current workers uprising worldwide against capitalist exploitation, Waythamoorthy called on Putrajaya to do away with the amendments.
“Or else, Malaysian protests against the amendments will turn into a global anti-capitalist movement similar to current demonstrations in America and elsewhere,” he warned. - Free Malaysia Today, 3/11/2011, Hindraf slams labour law amendments
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