Low turnout at labour laws protest

The demonstration organised by the MTUC manages to draw only 100 members.

FMT ALERT

KUALA LUMPUR: About 100 MTUC members gathered at the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) headquarters here today to protest against the recent amendments to the Employment Act.

The turnout is lower than the 500 predicted by Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) president Khalid Atan.

Most of the picketing crowd are members of the Malaysian Trade Union Rights Network (PSI), an affiliate of the MTUC.

Also present were DAP stalwarts Lim Kit Siang and M Kulasegaran who were joined by Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general S Arutchelvan and Oppressed People’s Network (Jerit) coordinator E Nalini.

Trade unions alleged that the amendments would further erode workers’ rights in Malaysia.

Last month, Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam tabled the controversial amendments in the Dewan Rakyat despite widespread objection by MTUC and the opposition parties.

The MTUC had organised a peaceful protest against the amendment at the entrance to Parliament last month which attracted about 100 people.

Trade unions claimed that the new amendments would absolve employers of any responsibility to their workers as the latter would come under the purview of the recruitment agency.

The amendments, MTUC added, would also allow employers to delay overtime payment by a month which would affect the low-income group.

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