Path to industrial harmony

Staunch unionists: Malaysian workers owe a great deal to past trade union leaders like PP. Narayanan (centre), V. David (left), Zainal Rampak and their successors. – Photo by David HL Khoo

MALAYSIAN workers along with millions worldwide celebrate Labour Day today.

In Malaysia, Labour Day was officially declared a public holiday in 1972 by the then Deputy Prime Minister Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman in recognition of workers’ contribution to the nation’s progress and prosperity.

In post-war Malaya, various forms of industrial action, including strikes, work-to-rule, go-slow and wildcat strikes, were common to support workers’ claims for higher wages and better working conditions.

Strikes were non-productive as they caused considerable inconvenience to the general public, heavy losses to employers and loss of income to the workers involved.

Workers were more organised after the registration of trade unions in Malaya in 1951, and they were represented by organisations such as the National Union of Plantation Workers, Transport Workers’ Union and the Railwaymen’s Union of Malaya.

Industrial harmony in the country today is largely attributed to goodwill and understanding between workers and employers as well as pragmatic labour policies.

Malaysian workers are by and large economically and socially ahead of their counterparts in many Asian countries. For this, workers owe a great deal to past trade union leaders like PP. Narayanan, V. David, Tan Sri Zainal Rampak and their successors.

Through timely intervention by the authorities, most proposed strikes were averted at the last minute and many were called off after protracted negotiations between employers and unions.

The longest strike in Malaysian history was by the 13,000-strong Malayan Railway employees in December 1962, who demanded that 9,000 daily-rated workers be converted to monthly salaried employees.

The entire railway network came to a grinding halt at that time. Besides the public, traders and merchants were also badly hit as the transportation of essential goods, including rubber and tin, was held up.

The 22-day strike put the government, as a model employer, in a bad light. Finally, the then Transport Minister Tun Sardon Jubir relented.

Effective use of human resources is vital for growth. To remain competitive, the focus should be on productivity and acquisition of skills.

The government must tweak labour laws to protect and promote further the well-being of workers.

S. SUNDARESON

Petaling Jaya