Joint
Statement – 3/5/2012
Abolish
the ‘Contractor for Labour’ system
Withdraw
the 2012 amendments to Employment Act 1955.
We,
the undersigned 90 trade
unions, civil society groups and organizations object to the actions of the
government of Malaysia in destroying direct employment relationship between the
principal, as employer, and their workers, as employees, with the latest
amendments to the Employment Act 1955.
The Malaysian Trade Union
Congress (MTUC) , which not only represents the about 800,000 unionized
workers but also the over 12 million workers in Malaysia, have strongly and consistently opposed the
proposed amendments since it was first tabled in Parliament vide Bill No:
D.R.25/2010 in July 2010, which the government later withdrew. The government
re-introduced the Bill with minor changes in June 2011 vide Bill No:
D.R.15/2011. MTUC came out even more strongly and also picketed at the
Parliament House on 3rd October 2011 and in spite of strong
resistance from many quarters, including on the Dewan Rakyat floor, the controversial Bill was passed
on 6th October 201, did finally
come into effect on April 1st 2012.
We would like to address just
one of several aspects of the new amendments that is the main bone of
contention, i.e. the introduction of the new provision for the definition of
“contractor for labour”.
With
the amendment, the contractor for labour will be the third party (or the
middleman) who will come in between the now direct employment relationship
between the owner-operator of trade or business (defined as the “principal”)
and their worker-employee.
BACKGROUND
The
Employment Act 1955 was introduced before independence (Merdeka) by the British
Administration effectively abolishing indentured labour, bonded labour and the
“kanggani” system in Malaya. (collectively then known as the “contract system”).
The Act also did establish two very important principles of law which are
considered sacrosanct to this day. They are, security of tenure –
ensuring permanence of employment, and proprietary right to the job
– where termination of worker, shall be only with just cause and excuse and by
due process.
The employment scenario in the country began to change in the early 1990s. In 1992 the government allowed migrant workers for the construction and plantation sector. In 2000, it was extended to manufacturing and service (hotel and restaurants) sectors and in 2002, it was extended to all sectors.
Originally migrant workers were employed directly by the principal employer but this started to change in 2005, when the Cabinet Committee on Foreign Workers in its meeting on 5-July 2005 agreed to the recruitment of foreign workers through outsourcing companies (now known as ‘Contractor for Labour’ in the amended Act). The issuance of these outsourcing licenses was strangely done by the Ministry of Home Affairs, not the Ministry of Human Resources. There are today about 277 registered labour outsourcing companies in the country today. (The Star, 23-Feb 2010).
This
establishment of the outsourcing companies allowed for the re-emergence of the old
‘contract system’. It opened doors resulting in a direct assault on
the basic foundation of labour rights, the undermining dignity of labour, perpetuating
the establishment and operation of dehumanized and bonded labour. The practice,
which started with migrant workers, was then extended to local workers.
These outsourcing companies recruited local workers and migrant workers, some on fix term contracts, with terms and conditions usually less favourable than that of workers directly employed by principals.
The incidence of principals using workers supplied by outsourcing companies is growing. The principal company pays the outsource company an agreed sum of money for the number of workers supplied, whether they be local or migrant workers. The principal company effectively is able to avoid the employer’s duty and obligation to ensure their workers’ rights and welfare are protected. This practice also saved principal company money that would have ordinarily been expended for workers like medical cost, insurance, bonus, wage increments, retirement benefits, transportation and accommodation, service awards, and several other benefits. It also allows them to evade statutory contributions to the Employees Provident Fund and for social security schemes. The principal company also evades all obligations and safeguards in law when workers are hired or terminated, including domestic inquiries and lay-off and termination benefits. If the principal wants to now get rid of workers, it now merely have to inform the outsource company.
To convert the workforce from permanent employees to short-term contract employees, and now outsourced workers, most principals either retrenched their workers, used “voluntary separation schemes” or other methods, or simply terminated their employees substituting them now with workers supplied by the outsourcing companies.
REASON FOR THE AMENDMENT
These outsourcing companies have been allowed to operate outside the law with no law regulating them. Even though they were manpower/labour suppliers, they were not created under and/or regulated by the Private Employment Agencies Act 1981, which would have also ensured these manpower/labour suppliers would only provide workers and not become employers of workers supplied.
The recent amendment to the Employment Act is to give these outsourcing companies statutory recognition under the Employment Act, and at the same time institutionalize and legitimize employment through the outsourcing companies, which now legally will be legally known as the “contractor for labour”.
A primary reason for the creation of the ‘contractor for labour’ and the introduction of labour outsourcing is to stifle workers and trade unions capacity to demand and negotiate for better rights and benefits. The MTUC Memorandum to the HR Minister dated October 7, 2008 refers to an interview with Datuk Ishak Mohamed, the Enforcement Director of the Immigration Department that was published in New Straits Time, July 20, 2008, where he, amongst others, said, ‘…outsourcing is good as it will attract foreign direct investment. Investors do not want unions to be formed in their establishments. Through outsourcing, it would be difficult for unions to be formed as outsourcing company, and not the factory, would be the employer…’ is indicative of the intention of the government.
SUB-CLASS OF WORKERS.
The creation of this new sub-class of workers, who are not considered employees of the principal, also jeopardizes existing employment relationship between the principal and their current worker-employees, likewise the relationship with their trade unions. Today, these new sub-class of workers, made up of both local and migrant workers, are found in most workplaces, including even government-linked companies, whereby in some factories they currently make up about 50% of the total workforce. Trade unions are being weakened, and their bargaining powers for better rights and benefits for workers are slowly eroding by the increasing presence of workers who are not employees of the principal, and also by the loss of security of tenure created by short-term contracts.
‘Contractor for labour’ is actually outsourcing of labour which is very different from outsourcing of work. Outsourcing of work is when principal employer outsources some specified work or operations which are not their core operation, to another company who carries out the work for the principal using their own employees under their own control and supervision. For example, in several manufacturing companies, cleaning, turf/gardening, canteen and security services are examples of outsourced work. This outsourcing of work is legal, and the workers of those who are doing outsourced work are protected by the Employment Act.
Contrary to the principle that workers doing core
operation work should be employees of the principal, this amendment to the Act now
allows the ‘contractor for labour’ to supply workers to perform the
core operation under the control and supervision of the principal’s supervisory
staff and managers. The ‘contractor for labour’ merely collects the salary of
the labour supplied and apportions a part to himself and pays his workers, usually less than the
workers who are under the direct employment of the principal, though they do
the same work. The principle of equal pay for equal work is thus breached.
The principal, who is
considered not the employer of the workers supplied, absolves himself of all
liabilities and employer’s obligations with regard these workers supplied by
‘contractor for labour’ who are working for the principal’s benefit,
EMPLOYMENT
(EXEMPTION) ORDER 2012
The MOHR Minister, in an attempt to placate the MTUC, trade unions, civil society groups and workers issued an exemption order, effective April 1st 2012, which, amongst others, stated:-
“…Any person who enters into contract for service with a principal to supply employees required by the principal for the execution of the whole or any part of any work for the principal in any industry, establishment or undertakings other than the agriculture undertakings, is exempted from sections 31, 33A, 69 and 73 of the Act...”
However, the words used in the said exemption order,
which by the way also did not include the amendment in section 2, which was the
very amendment that gave statutory recognition to the ‘contractor for labour’
and its practices, only further affirms the contractor for labour and their
practices. The exempted sections referred to in the said Order merely dealt
with ancillary matters like registration of employees when supplied to
principal and priority of debt. The exemption order also would deny access to
justice for workers now being supplied by these ‘contractor for labour’ in all
the exempted sectors.
MTUC and all groups that opposed the amendments were
not appeased by this exemption order, and continue their objections to the
‘contractor for labour’.
PROTEST
We strongly object to the ‘contractor of labour’ system. All workers that work under the control and supervision of the principal must be the employees of the said principal not some third party. The Malaysian government’s action is in breach of article 8 of the Federal Constitution. In 1998, Malaysia also ratified the ILO Declarations on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work but this amendment is in contravention of the said Declaration. Further, it also is in contravention of the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda which Malaysia has committed to.
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), many trade unions and civil society groups, also opposed, and still oppose this amendment. The Malaysian Bar also recently passed unanimously a resolution on March 10th 2012, amongst others, calling for the maintenance of existing 2-party employment relationships, and also that labour suppliers and/or contractors of labour should never be or continue to be employers of workers after they are supplied, accepted and start working at the workplaces of principals.
The contractor for labour and their practices should not be allowed in any sectors including the plantation and agricultural sector.
DEMAND
We, therefore, demand for the repeal of all amendments to the Employment Act 1955, in particular the amendments to section 2, 31, 33A, 69, 73 brought about by Employment (Amendment) Act 2012 [ACT A1419] relating to the ‘contractor for labour’ and their practices, and pending repeal for an immediate stopping operation of the said amendments.
We call for the abolition of the contractor for labour and their practices and that all workers, currently supplied by these 3rd party manpower/labour suppliers (contractor for labour) who are still not direct employees of the principal employer be immediately made employees of the said principal and be accorded same benefits and treatment as accorded to all other employees without discrimination, including the right to form/join trade unions or afford protection and entitlement to the benefits accorded through their respective Collective Agreements.
We call for the abolition of precarious employment, and for retention of a just 2-party employment relationship between principals and workers, and for the respect of worker and trade union rights.
Charles Hector
Pranom
Somwong
Bruno
Pereira
For and on behalf,
ALIRAN (Aliran Kesedaran Negara), Malaysia
Amalgamated Union of Employees in Government Clerical
and Allied Services(AUEGCAS )
Amalgamated Union Employees Tenaga Nasional Berhad (AUETNB )
Amalgamated Union Employees Tenaga Nasional Berhad (AUETNB )
Anak Muda Sarawak (AMS)
Asian Migrants Center (AMC)
Asia
Monitor Resource Centre(AMRC)
Asia Pacific Forum on Women , Law and Development (APWLD)
Asian Network for the Rights of Occupational and Environmental Victims
(ANROEV)
Association for Community Development -ACD, Bangladesh
BASF Asia
Pacific Network
BASF-PETRONAS
Malaysia
Burma
Campaign Malaysia (BCM)
Burma
Partnership
Centre For
Reflection And Action On Labour Rights (Cereal Guadalajara), Mexico
Center
for Indonesian Migrant Workers-CIMW
Center for Migrant Advocacy, Philippines (CMA-Phils)
Centre
des travailleurs et travailleurs immigrants / Immigrant Workers' Centre
(Montréal, Québec)
Centre
d'appui aux Philippines - Centre for Philippine Concerns (Montréal, Québec)
Christian
Development Alternative (CDA)-Bangladesh
Clean
Clothes Campaign
Communication
Workers Union Victoria,Australia
Community Action Network (CAN), Malaysia
Democratic
Party for a New Society (DPNS), Burma
Dignity
International
Ecumenical
Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER), Philippines
Electronic
Industry Employees Union Western Region Peninsular Malaysia (EIEUWRPM)
FAIR
(Italy)
Families
Against Corporate Killers, UK
Federation
Independent of Trade Union (GSBI) Indonesia
FSPMI (
Federasi Serikat Pekerja Metal Indonesia)
Future In Our Hands, Norway
Garment
and Allied Workers Union, India
Hsinchu
Catholic Diocese Migrants and Immigrants Service Center (HMISC), Taiwan
Institute
for Occupational Health and Safety Development (IOHSAD),
International
Metalworkers' Federation (IMF)
International
Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied
Workers' Associations (IUF)
Jaringan
Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT), Malaysia
Kesatuan
Pekerja-Pekerja Polyplastics Asia Pacific (KPPAP)
Kesatuan
Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Selatan
Kesatuan
Sekerja NUTEAIW Isuzu Hicom (M) Sdn Bhd, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia
Kesatuan
Industri Elektronik Wilayah Timur Semenanjung Malaysia
Konfederasi
Serikat Nasional (National Union Confederation)[KSN] , Indonesia.
Labour
Behind the Label, UK
Lal Zenda Coal Mines Majdoor Union (LZCMMU), India
Lembaga
Informasi Perburuhan Sedane-Sedane Labour Resource Centre Bogor-Indonesia
LHRLA -
Lawyers for Human Rights & Legal Aid (Pakistan)
MADPET
(Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)
Malayan Nurses Union(MNU)
MTUC (Malaysian Trade Union Congress)
Migrant
CARE, Indonesia
Migrant
Forum in Asia(MFA)
Migrante
International
National
Domestic Workers Movement- AP Region
National
Hazards Campaign of UK
NLD-LA
(National League for Democracy-Liberated Areas), Malaysia
National
Union of Banking Employees (NUBE)
National
Union of Petroleum & Chemicals Industrial Workers (NUPCIW), Malaysia
National
Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industries Workers (NUTEAIW), Malaysia
Network of
Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM)
Occupational and Environmental Health Network of India (OEHNI)
Pakistan Rural Workers Social Welfare Organization (PRWSWO)
Paper & Paper Products Manufacturing Employees Union(Reg No 444),
Malaysia
Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM)
Perak
Women for Women Society (PWW)
Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)
Persatuan Sahabat Wanita, Selangor (PSWS)
PINAY -
The Filipino Women's Organization in Quebec
Public
Services International, Malaysian Affiliates National Coordinating Committee
Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat (KOMAS)
RightOnCanada.ca,
Canada
Sarawak Medical Services Union (SMSU)
Solidarity of Cavite Workers, Philippines
Solidarity of Cavite Workers, Philippines
Tenaga
National Berhad Junior Officers Union
(TNBJOU)
Tenaganita,
Malaysia
Thai
Committee for Refugees Foundation (TCR)
Thai
Labour Campaign, Thailand
The Live
And Livelihood Foundation, Bangladesh
The Women's Caucus (Southeast Asia Women's Caucus on ASEAN)
Think
Centre – Singapore
United Filipinos In Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK)
United Students Against Sweatshops,
US
University of Malaya General Staff Union (UMGSU)
WARBE
Development Foundation, Bangladesh
Women's Legal and Human Rights Bureau, Inc.(WLB),Philippines
WOREC
Nepal
Workers
Assistance Center, Inc., Philippines
Workers
Hub For Change (WH4C)
Yayasan
LINTAS NUSA Batam-Indonesia
Yokohama
Action Research (Japan)
Clean
Clothes Campaign, the Netherlands
* This statement was issued to the media - and naturally our mainstream media has not to carried it.
* The statement has been sent to the Prime Minister, Human Resource Minister and the Malaysian Human Rights Commission on 4th May 2012
