Keratan Akhbar - Utusan Malaysia (07.03.2011)
Bro Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal President UNI-MLC
Creating Smart Partnerships! Problems could be easily and amicably solved if trade unions could give feedback in a harmonious and peaceful atmosphere emphasising on smart partnership for all
On 7 March 2011, UNI Malaysia Liaison Council (UNI MLC) was featured in Utusan Malaysia newspapers, where an interview was conducted with Bro. Mohd Shafie on UNI MLC's vision of Smart Partnerships and on the achievements and work of UNI
in the country.
Below is an English translation of the article:
Although the UNI MLC is not well known as the CUEPECS and the MTUC, the organisation has membership strength of 200,000 members from 60 unions representing white collar workers all over the country. Thus, it has the capacity to impact industrial relations between employers, employees and the government in the country.
Officially registered in 2003, the UNI MLC is a member of the Global Union UNI (you and I) which has 1,000 affiliates in 135 countries and representing about 20 million members. The organisation head office is in Nyon. The organisation was formed in January 2000. The organisation is a merger of four international trade unions representing workers mainly from sectors representing post and telecom, media and entertainment graphical and packaging and finance, trading and insurance sector FIET.
In Malaysia the UNI MLC work includes providing advisory and consultancy services on collective agreements, occupational health and safety, good working conditions and issues relating to migrant workers.
Recently the UNI MLC has been awarded with the UNI Breaking through that is the highest global union award for organising the unorganised workers and forming unions in workplace that is not unionised.
In a special interview Mohd Shafie BP Mammal shares his hope for a new era of more harmonious industrial relations between governments, employers and trade unions. Our philosophy is to create smart partnership and to work with governments, universities, intellectuals and NGO who have the same objectives.
The question is how can we build this new era of smart partnership?
Towards harmonious industrial relations without neglecting good relationship with the management he said. Among others he stressed he wants to see a change in the mindset of leaders of trade unions that need to follow the political climate, economic growth and job opportunities in the region.
Healthy industrial relations with employers do not mean that we have compromised our rights.
This change may be carried by our young workers who will succeed us five to ten years from now. Their philosophy may be different particularly in an era of smart partnership that does see things not based on income alone he said.
However, Mohd Shafie commented that change to the new era is not that easy if the management group is still sceptical to openness with the trade unions at the lower level. He added employer must change the old attitude and perception that trade unions are confrontational. Actually, the employer must look after the workers. In this way the feeling of respect between the two groups will improve and productivity and output will increase. “Encourage training and retraining so that we could shape a new system and work culture in this era of globalisation” he stressed.
He also said that many issues could be easily and amicably solved if the human resource section is skilful and concerned about the situations of their staff.
“Problems could be easily and amicably solved if trade unions could give feedback in a harmonious and peaceful atmosphere emphasising on smart partnership for all”
Unfortunately there are some human resource officials who are confrontational towards their trade unions he said.
He also said that UNI Global Union has given recognition to outstanding employers in the region in 2007. Telecoms Malaysia and Star Publication of Malaysia together with Bank De Oro Universal of the Philippines and Media Corp and OCBC Bank from Singapore. Among the factors for winning the citation stated human resource that works closely with the trade unions and looks after the welfare of staff at the same time bringing benefit to the local community. The award was given to employer who looks after the welfare of workers including putting some of the profits of the company for workers benefit.
Trade unions the world over will respect this kind of employer he said.
Mohd Shafie added that international conference of the Global union UNI in Nagasaki, Japan last year supported the resolutions on sincerity in handling workers issues. Employers or Government should not have hidden agenda and must be sincere about the objectives and directions with their staff. Government should not discuss with employers only. We want to hear the union’s voice participating at a meaningful level and not isolated from the terms and policies on economy and human rights he stressed. However, he said recognition on the role of trade unions increased significantly when UNI MLC programmes were attended and officiated by the Malaysian Prime Ministers since 2002 in the era of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammed, Tun Abdullah Badawi, and Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak as Deputy Prime Minister.
We supported the solid ideas of the Prime Minister now who want all groups to work together to make Malaysia a developed country. The government wants to see real economic growth without giving problems to workers and the people. The prime minister also wants more highly skilled workers with vision to achieve the country objectives.
This could be achieved if we could form a standard of relationship that creates harmony for all groups. Good relationships and suitable work this is smart partnership that we are stressing, he said.
Although the era of smart partnership could increase respect for all groups and increasing quality and productivity of staff, Mohd Shafie emphasised that this will be meaningless if it exist by word only and not put into practice.
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Creating Smart Partnerships! 
Kuala Lumpur Time
