MTUC: Most companies facing forced labour issues have no unions

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) is claiming that most of the companies reported to be engaging in forced labour activities in the country were ones that do not have a trade union.

MTUC secretary-general Kamarul Baharin Mansor said the government must strengthen trade unions by making it mandatory for every company to have a trade union.

"This new policy will assist the government in resolving the issue of forced labour. Trade unions can conduct self-inspections on companies. This policy is in line with the government's ratification of Convention 98 (C98) of the International Labor Organization (ILO)," he said in a statement.

Commenting further, he said MTUC has taken proactive steps by holding discussions with the US Embassy to seek views and advice on forced labour.

According to Kamarul, the visit was partly to emphasise MTUC's opposition to forced labour.

"During the visit, MTUC told the US Embassy that MTUC should be involved in any investigation on forced labour in Malaysia.

"MTUC's involvement is to ensure the well-being of foreign workers and safeguard the interests of workers as a whole," he said.

Work with MTUC and ILO

Therefore, Kamarul said MTUC called on all companies in Malaysia to work with the MTUC and ILO to combat such activities.

"The move by Syarikat FGV Sdn Bhd together with the ILO in providing rights awareness to foreign workers on the plantations is one notable effort to clean up Malaysia's tarnished image," added Kamarul.

Last month the Labour Department launched a nationwide mega operation dubbed “Ops Banteras” simultaneously throughout Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan to combat the issue of forced labour and human trafficking.

In recent years, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has prevented Malaysia-made products from entering the US due to forced labour allegations. - Mkini