Government and industrial relations in Malaysia

Abstract

The basic aim of this paper is a systematic presentation of the various role that Government plays in industrial relations in Malaysia. Ungku tried to present this paper in a comprehensive and viable anatomical structure. To avoid some misunderstanding, Ungku has restricted the discussion in this paper to the relations between labour and management that arise out of matters connected with employment and non-employment, or the terms of employment of the conditions of work of any person. In a certain sense, the industrial relations can be seen as a Game. There are always two players, labour and the management. And there are always rules that are formally stated or institutionally accepted. In this paper, Ungku suggested that there are six significant roles that the Government plays in the industrial relations Game. They are the legislator, administrator, peacemaker, participant, adjudicator and guardian. This paper discusses the current situation briefly, hence there is no discussion in details on each role.