ALL government-linked companies (GLCs) and government-linked investment companies (GLICs) need to appoint representatives of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) as their board members.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the move is an effort to add value to transparency, apart from enabling the voice of employees to be taken into account in all decisions made by the board.

“It is the government’s hope that the employee representatives will also play a role in administrative matters later,” he said at the opening of the MTUC’s 42nd triennial delegates’ conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

“Workers should also maintain stability, unity and industrial relations not only among themselves but also with the government and employers for the success of the national development process.”

He also described MTUC, which represents 16.5 million workers in the country, as a good government partner and plays an important role in helping to revive the country’s economy, which is now entering the transition phase to endemic.

With the Pejuang Kaum Pekerja Sejak 1949 as its slogan, Ismail said MTUC showed the important role led by the workers themselves and received government recognition.

He said as a result, MTUC officials are given the honour of being members of various statutory and special bodies, including the National Labour Advisory Council, Employees Provident Fund and Social Security Organisation.

“This recognition proves the government’s confidence and trusts in MTUC to jointly consider and voice the problems of workers to help improve their welfare,” he said.

The prime minister also announced an annual grant of RM4 million to MTUC to implement awareness and training programmes.

Ismail said MTUC also needs to create a more holistic, effective and comprehensive education plan for its members as well as other Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) workers.

Reskilling and upskilling are key to ensuring that Malaysia has a competitive workforce.

“I am confident that MTUC, through strategic education plans, can continue to play an important role in producing dynamic employees,” he said.

At the same time, he said, as the parent body that fights for the rights of workers, MTUC needs to be mindful of the needs of its members, especially those belonging to the B40 group and the hardcore poor.

He said the government, understanding the needs of workers in their daily lives, insisted on implementing the minimum wage on May 1.

“I want to say that it is not easy to implement the minimum wage. Employers do not agree with its implementation after the Covid-19 pandemic by giving various reasons,” he said.

“Some have asked for a gradual increase but the government is adamant because we feel that today’s economic situation does not allow workers to live on monthly wages of less than RM1,500.”

The event was also attended by Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan and MTUC deputy president Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani.

The MTUC’s 42nd triennial delegates’ conference, which will take place for two days starting today, will see the election of the new leader of the trade union congress for the 2023-2025 term. – Bernama, July 2, 2022.