KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has urged a shift in tripartism to a more strategic, high-trust partnership that can help Malaysia navigate economic changes, demographic shifts and growing global competition.
In conjunction with Workers’ Day 2026, its president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said cooperation between employers, employees, trade unions and the government must go beyond consultation, with stronger shared accountability and aligned policies.
He stressed that Workers’ Day should not be merely symbolic, but a moment for stakeholders to assess progress and recalibrate approaches to secure the country’s economic future.
Amid rising business costs and rapid digital transformation, Syed Hussain said sustainable businesses and quality jobs must go hand in hand, adding that human capital remains key to resilience.
To tackle issues such as skills mismatches, graduate employability and the impact of artificial intelligence, MEF proposed a next-phase tripartite framework centred on evidence-based approach with stronger industry engagement at sector level.
The federation also called for faster policy implementation and balanced regulations that protect workers without burdening businesses, while emphasising that social justice and economic competitiveness must progress together.
Meanwhile, the National Skilled Workers Organisation (Belia Mahir), in a separate statement, fully supports the government's initiatives to empower the welfare and protection of workers in conjunction with the 2026 Workers' Day celebration.
Its President, Mohammad Rizan Hassan, said that Belia Mahir welcomes the proposal to extend PERKESO protection to Malaysian citizens abroad, as well as the introduction of a Post-Maternity Leave Allowance to further empower women in the economy.
Mohammad Rizan emphasised that the nation’s economic strength lies in the quality of the relationship between employers and employees.
"Employers need to hold employees in high regard. Employees are not merely labour, but strategic assets that contribute to the growth of both the organisation and the nation. A condescending attitude, poor communication, and a failure to appreciate employees' contributions will only weaken productivity and workforce loyalty," he said.
At the same time, he reminded workers to shed negative work habits that could adversely affect organisational performance.
He noted that in this era of rapid technological advancement, the development of the right attitude is the most critical factor in ensuring the Malaysian workforce remains relevant.
"Skilled youth, in particular, must emerge as a generation that is not only technically proficient but also possesses strong integrity, responsibility, dedication and high resilience,” he added. - Bernama
