INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS SYSTEMS ARE TRIPARTITE Nearly all industrial relations system are tripartite i.e.

. they are made of three parties. They are: The employer The employees and The government The different ways these three parties interact account for variations in different countries systems of industrial relations. The key variable is in the decision-making in the areas relating to work-life. The rules and regulations on compensation, workers rights, discipline, and the duties and performance of employees can be made in any of the three waysunilaterally, bilaterally or in a tripartite manner. When decisions are made unilaterally, they are made by the management on behalf of the employer without any interference fro the worker or other parties. If the workers have some right to participate in such decision making as when they are organized into trade unions, the process is bilateral. Governments of the country can play a role in drafting and presenting to parliament labor laws that affect work life. In Malaysia before such laws are presented to the parliament, there are tripartite discussions involving employers, unions and the government. They sit together to agree on what laws or amendments to the laws are necessary. The machinery for this discussion is the National Labor Advisory Council (NLAC). NLAC consists of representatives from each of the three sectors as follows: o o o Workers representatives 14 Employers representatives 14 Government representatives 12

The Minister of Human Resources chairs the discussion and appoints government representatives. The other members of the council are appointed after consultation with the relevant bodies.

These include workers organizations such as Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) and the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil service and Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) representing the employers. The council meets twice a year and it also meets when there are urgent matters to attend to such as approving amendments to law.

INFLUENCE OF INTERNATIONAL BODIES Certain international bodies also play a role in Malaysian Industrial Relations. Many unions are affiliated to international bodies to whom they appeal for help. E.g. When the there was a long dispute between the Airlines Employees Union and Malaysian Airlines System (MAS) in 1979, the international Transport Workers Federation intervened in the dispute and encourages the Australian unionists to boycott Malaysian aeroplanes. This action caused Malaysian planes to be stranded at Australian airports and unable to fly out. The foreign unions and their federations provide financial assistance to local unions from time to time for research and education. The International Labor Organization (ILO) an agency of the United Nations based in Geneva also plays a role in the Malaysian Industrial Relations System. The ILO has 175 bodies (Malaysia joined in 1957) is a tripartite body provides an international forum for discussion on all matters relating to labor by having annual meetings of members in every June in Geneva. The convention sets labor standards which it expects member countries to endorse and implement. However few of these conventions have been ratified. ILO dominated by richer developed countries whose agenda differ from newly developing nations. Malaysia has ratified ILO conventions relating to Guarding of machinery Minimum age (underground work) Recruiting of indigenous workers Contracts of employment of indigenous workers Penal sanctions Labor inspections Employment service

 Protection of wages Right to organize, Right to bargain collectively The ILO not only formulates labor standards, it also provides technical assistance to member states, training and advisory services and carries out research projects and publications. Abolition of forced labor The ILO is financed by its members.