This was conveyed to the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) by Human Resource Minister Dr S Subramaniam at the tripartite National Joint Labour Advisory Council meeting on May 27, said MTUC secretary-general G Rajasegaran.
As a follow-up, the council formed a technical committee comprising government, employers and workers representatives to discuss the finer points of the amendments, he told Bernama today.
So far the committee had met twice and more meetings were scheduled next month.
In April, the government announced its intention to amend the Employment Act 1955, the Industrial Relations Act 1967 and the Trade Unions Act 1959 in tandem with the present labour situation in the country.
"Some of the proposals were very major and would have far reaching consequences on the workers rights and we needed to give our input,” said Rajasegaran.
Prefers talks over protests
He hoped the technical committee would succeed in watering down some of the proposals for the benefit of the workers security and well-being.
Rajasegaran said the MTUC preferred the negotiation table than taking to the streets to get what it wanted.
He denied that the MTUC was behind the demonstration by workers last Sunday in Shah Alam over the proposed amendments although MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud spoke at the function.
"It did not mean that it was sanctioned by the congress. The official stand of the MTUC is that since it is now negotiating with the government, it will not hold any protest until the conclusion of the talks."
"If we fail to reach a consensus, then perhaps we will decide on the next course of action which may include rallies to explain the situation to our members," he said.
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