Amended Industrial Relations Act Bill a ‘gamechanger’, says union man

KUCHING: The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Sarawak Division supports the Industrial Relations Act (Amendment) Bill, which was unanimously passed in Dewan Negara recently.

MTUC Sarawak secretary Andrew Lo sees the Bill as a ‘gamechanger’ – one set to propel the way forward to equitable industrial relations and empower workers to have better bargaining position in improving the terms and conditions of employment.

“This (Bill) would also pave the way towards the ratification of ILO (International Labour Organisation) Convention 87, which gives workers the fundamental right to go in a union of their choice, amongst many other benefits.

“This will, in turn, facilitate a higher-income and highproductivity workforce. Employers will have to invest in innovations and smarter human resources management and manpower planning, instead of forever relying on low-skilled foreign workers – this will then increase their competitiveness in the global economy,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Lo also expressed his deepest appreciation to the MPs and Senators from across the political divides for having unanimously voted to pass the Industrial Relations Act (Amendment) Bill.

In relation to this, he called upon like-minded employers, groups, and those in union leaderships to work together and push the country forward, in line with the existing international standards.