Worker and Trade Union Rights Must Be Prioritized for the Well Being of the Worker and their Families

William Nicholas Gomes, Human Rights Ambassador-Jun-03-2014

Joint Statement– June 2 2014

1. STABLE REGULAR EMPLOYMENT UNTIL RETIREMENT AGE–ABOLISH PRECARIOUS SHORT-TERM EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS(SALEM, Ore.) - We, the undersigned 47 civil society organizations, trade unions and concerned groups, make the following demands to better protect worker and trade union rights in Malaysia. It is sad when a government places the interest of businesses, investors and employers over the rights and welfare of workers and their families.

The right to permanent regular employment until retirement age is essential for the economic well being and financial stability of the worker and their families.

A short-term or fixed term employment contract is a form of precarious employment that must be abolished. It allows for the denial of the right of retirement at 60, maternity rights and benefits, increments of rights which comes with tenure, makes it near impossible for such workers to form, join or even serve as leaders in existing unions. Such short-term employment contracts, usually a year or less, with no right of extension even if the work still exist, weakens worker capacity to struggle for better worker rights, and certainly weakens unions or makes unionization impossible.

Worker and Trade Union Rights Must Be Prioritized for the Well Being of the Worker and Their Families by Thavam Ratna