MTUC wants minister's power on referral to Industrial Court removed

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) wants the human resources minister's discretion to refer cases to the Industrial Court to be removed.

This was after Human Resources Minister Richard Riot Jaem decided not to refer some 3,600 cases by former Malaysia Airlines (MAS) employees who were retrenched, to the Industrial Court and also refused to provide justification.

"This is an evidence as to why MTUC has been advocating that all cases referred by claimants, if unable to reach a settlement at the Industrial Relations Department, should be referred to the Industrial Court directly, instead of referring again to the human resources minister for his discretion on its merit," said MTUC secretary-general J Solomon.

Solomon said it was in the spirit of the Industrial Relations Act 1967 that cases referred to the minister should be decided on, expeditiously.

The revelation that the 3,600 cases by former MAS employees only came to light after the National Union of Flight Attendants (Nufam) complained about the Human Resources Ministry, being non-responsive.

Solomon questioned if the decision not to refer the cases to the Industrial Court was because MAS was now a government-linked company.

"The sacked workers and the Malaysian workers at large, deserve some answers. A denial of such rights to workers is also a violation of the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, which is the Core Labour Standard.

"The minister's non-referral and refusal to provide justification runs contrary to the ILO's call on governments to ensure good industrial relations practices in the country," he said.

Solomon urged Riot to engage Nufam on the issue instead of shunning them.

"We urge the minister to stop undermining workers rights, to respect them and give them an explanation as workers are the backbone of the Malaysian economy.

"MTUC also calls on Nufam and the workers to lodge an official complaint with MTUC," he said.- Mkini