THE amendments to the Trade Unions Act 1959 are not aimed at suppressing trade unions, but rather to increase the number of trade unions in the country, Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan said.

At the same time, he said it would create more opportunities for workers to join any union of their choice for their benefit. 

“Just look at the membership of existing trade unions. Even though there are 15 million workers, not even 10% of them are members (of these unions). 

“Maybe there were some betrayals and other cases – that’s why we want to increase the number of unions that employees can join.

“This is a good effort and an international culture made known through the International Labour Organisation,” he told reporters after attending a Deepavali open house and presenting Deepavali goodies for people with disabilities and single mothers in Tapah today. 

Saravanan, who is also MIC deputy president, said the Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill 2022 was unanimously passed before parliament was dissolved last month. 

In a statement, Coalition Against Multiplicity of Unions (CAMU) chairman Rudy Rusly claimed the amendments to the act meant Saravanan and his deputy Halimah Mohamed Sadique had betrayed the trust of 15 million local workers to the extent of weakening trade unions.

On October 5, the Dewan Rakyat passed the bill, which aims to allow more than one union to be formed in a single workplace and to boost the membership of trade unions.

Saravanan in his wind-up at the Dewan Rakyat said the diversity of trade unions is expected to have a positive impact, especially on workers, besides giving workers the freedom to join or establish unions as they wish. – Bernama, November 1, 2022.