2 days ago
Court-backed JSC has authority over MTUC, chairman reaffirms
Solomon explains that the JSC was established through a Consent Order of the Court of Appeal, which authorised it to conduct the SDC and oversee MTUC affairs within a set timeframe. – Photo via Facebook
KUCHING (June 5): Recent claims suggesting that the Joint Special Committee (JSC) lacks the authority to manage the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) are misleading and contradict the Court of Appeal's explicit mandate, said JSC chairman J Solomon.
He explained that the JSC was established through a Consent Order of the Court of Appeal, which authorised it to conduct the Special Delegates Conference (SDC) and oversee MTUC affairs within a set timeframe.
'The JSC has already fixed the date for the SDC and issued circulars to affiliated unions,' Solomon said in a statement today.
He added that the Ministry of Human Resources (MoHR) had acknowledged the JSC's role by officially inviting its members to attend the Labour Day celebrations organised by the government, further recognising the JSC's legitimacy and responsibility in managing MTUC's affairs.
Solomon also criticised MoHR for refusing to submit the JSC-nominated names of Workers' Representatives to the International Labour Conference (ILC), calling the action 'a deliberate act of mischief'.
He stressed that the Court Order had resolved the internal crisis within MTUC and clearly mandated the JSC to manage its administration.
Solomon further alleged that MoHR withheld the workers' representative list from the ILC to avoid scrutiny over the Minister's actions, which he claimed were contrary to Convention 98 regarding interference in collective bargaining process and alleged collusion with employers.
'For the first time since becoming a member of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 1957, Malaysian workers were not represented at the ILO conference,' he said.
He claimed the MoHR's refusal to submit the names was an attempt to prevent discussion about the Minister's conduct at the ILC.
'It is this agenda of MoHR which resulted in the workers of Malaysia not being represented at the ILC,' he added.
Solomon advised individuals and parties against making statements in blind support of the MoHR Minister as such remarks could mislead workers and stakeholders and potentially lead to contempt of court.
MTUC Sarawak has since urged the JSC to resolve the leadership impasse and refrain from issuing statements that could create confusion.
It reaffirmed that the JCS had been granted a specific three-month mandate to conduct the MTUC SDC. J Solomon Joint Special Committee MTUC
