UNI MALAYSIA LABOUR CENTRE

Friday, April 7, 2017

UNI MEI Workshop for Media Sector Unions in Malaysia

A UNI MEI Workshop for Media Sector Unions in Malaysia was held on 6 & 7 April 2017 in Kuala Lumpur.

This workshop was participated by almost 40 participants from the various Media Unions in Malaysia namely:

1. Kesatuan Sekerja Kakitangan Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad

2. TV3 Executive Union

3. Primeworks Studio Executive Union

4. Astro Productions Employees Union

5. Astro Productions Executive Union

6. Al Hijrah Executive Union

7. Bernama Union

8. Portal Creative Association

9. Writers Association Malaysia

10. ASFON Negeri Sembilan

The workshop was officially opened by UNI-MLC President, Y.Bhg Datuk Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal followed by welcome address by UNI Apro Regional Secretary, Bro Christopher Ng. Also present to give his welcome greetings was UNI Apro MEI President Bro. Masatoshi Nakamura and the introduction of the workshop was done by the Head of UNI Global Union-MEI, Bro. Johannes Studinger.

This workshop was also attended by Sis. Michelle Bellino, Director for Youth Activities and Coordinator for UNI Apro MEI, Bro. Rajendra Acharya, Director of UNI Apro Trade Union Development, Sis. Yoko Ogawa, Director of UNI Apro Equal Opportunities and Sis. Alice Chang, Director of UNI Apro Commerce, Bro. Shankar Lamichanne, President of UNI Nepal Liaison Council.

During the workshop, the participants discussed and presented their discussions in working groups with the focus on the following areas:

1. Reports on State of Union Growth and Representation

2. Strategic Planning for Union Growth

Day 2 of the workshop was kicked off with a presentation on "Annual Returns to the Registrar of Trade Unions" by Y.Bhg Tuan Ahmad Shukri bin Hj Ali, Director of Department of Trade Union Affairs, Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia followed by a Q&A session between the speaker and participants.

President of UNI MEI Malaysia, Bro. Khairuzzaman Hj. Mohammad presented a paper on Union to Union Cooperation in the Media Sector.

The workshop ended with Reports back form Working Groups, Discussion of Working Group Reports and Plans on Going Forward: Action plan for UNI MEI Malaysia 2017-2018.

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Signing of MOU between UNI Apro, UNI NLC and UNI MLC

On 6 April 2017, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between UNI Asia Pacific Regional Organisation (UNI Apro), UNI-Malaysia Labour Centre (UNI MLC) and UNI Nepal Liaison Council (UNI NLC) in Kuala Lumpur. Bro. Christopher Ng, Regional Secretary of UNI Apro signed on behalf of UNI Apro, Y.Bhg Datuk Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal, President of UNI MLC signed on behalf of UNI MLC and Bro. Shankar Lamichhane, President of UNI NLC signed the MOU on behalf of UNI NLC.

This MOU aims to develop and implement a partnership program to represent and support Nepalese Migrant Workers in Malaysia. This partnership is a practical manifestation of the spirit of the solidarity outlined in the Memorandum of joint cooperation between UNI NLC Nepal and UNI MLC Malaysia to protect Nepalese migrant workers working in Malaysia and to strengthen the trade union movement in Nepal and Malaysia.

This MOU signed on 6 April 2017, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, among others calls for the “Promotion of the respect for the human rights and international labour standards namely freedom of association and collective bargaining, no discrimination at work, prohibition of forced labour, elimination of extreme forms of child labour” in both countries. The MOU draws reference from the purposes, principles and commitments enshrined in the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, and recommendations from the 4^th to 9^th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour calling for inter-country trade unions collaboration to implement relevant measures to protect the rights of migrant workers.

Accordingly, this partnership will explore all possible ways for UNI affiliates in Nepal and UNI affiliates in Malaysia grouped under each Liaison Council to help Nepalese migrant workers in Malaysia to ensure that their rights are respected, and they enjoy a decent condition of work and fair terms and conditions of employment.

Courtesy Call by UNI Apro and UNI MLC to ABU Office

A delegation consisting of UNI Apro and UNI MLC Officials paid a courtesy call to the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union in Kuala Lumpur on 6 April 2017 to meet with Dr. Javad Mottaghi, Secretary - General of Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union.

Among the UNI Apro and UNI MLC delegation were:

1. Mr. Christopher Ng, Regional Secretary of UNI Apro

2. Mr. Johannes Studinger , Head Of UNI-MEI

3. Mr. Masatoshi Nakamura - Presiden UNI Apro Mei

4. Sis. Michelle Belino - Director of Youth Activities and Coordinator for MEI
5. Mr. Rajendra Kumar Acharya - Assistant Regional Secretary UNI Apro

6. Sis. Alice Chang - Director of UNI Apro Commerce

7. Sis. Yoko Ogawa - Director of UNI Apro Equal Opportunities

8.Y.Bhg. Datuk Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal - President UNI-MLC