‘Remove intimidation clauses in Trade Union Amendment Bill’

A new schedule introduced in the proposed amendments to the Trade Union (Amendment) Bill 2022 lists Penal Code offences which were unjustified and a form of intimidation to the labour movement, says the Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC).

The coalition which represents 58 trade unions and worker rights NGOs in Malaysia handed over a memorandum to the Human Resources Ministry yesterday, listing seven demands of the amendment bill.

The coalition also called for the bill to be read during the July-August Parliament sitting to expedite its implementation.

LLRC co-chairperson Gopal Kishnam (above, second from left) said among the demands was the removal of the newly introduced Fourth Schedule in its entirety.

The Fourth Schedule listed Penal Code offences such as waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, carrying out activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy, directing activities of terrorist groups and assisting an organised criminal group.

“Given that the Penal Code applies to all persons in the country, it is suspicious that the government should aspire to include these select provisions in the Act and we view it as an attempt to intimidate the labour movement.

“These Penal Code provisions paint an unfair picture of the labour movement as organisations that can potentially risk national security, especially when...