BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Bigger Picture  >  Beyond The Ballot Box  >  Here’s How Employers in Malaysia Prevent Workers From Unionising

Here’s How Employers in Malaysia Prevent Workers From Unionising

Ng Yap Hwa, Assistant General Secretary, Labour Solidarity and Learning Resources Association (LLRC)

06-Feb-25 15:00

Here’s How Employers in Malaysia Prevent Workers From Unionising

The rate of unionisation among workers in Malaysia is at an abysmal 6%. This is one of the key reasons why wages in Malaysia are incredibly low. 

But why is this the case? What’s preventing workers in Malaysia from organising themselves to have greater bargaining power? 

Recently, the Labour Solidarity and Learning Resources Association (LLRC) published a paper titled The Challenges of Workers’ Organising in Malaysia. It’s a detailed report on the kinds of labour rights violations and union-busting tactics by big businesses and employers in Malaysia. 

We unpack this paper with one of the authors, Ng Yap Hwa who is the Assistant General Secretary of the Labour Solidarity and Learning Resources Association (LLRC).

Produced by: Dashran Yohan

Presented by: Dashran Yohan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  the workplace,  economy,  politics,  government,  Law/Activism

Tags:  union,  mtuc,  trade union,  workers rights,  migrant workers,  labour rights,  minimum wage,  low wages,  organising,  union busting, 


Latest Podcasts




Play / Pause

Listen now : BFM 89.9 -- The Business Station

Today’s Shows



11:00 AM

Best of Enterprise

(REPEAT) Sharmini Ann Jacob from KPMG Malaysia talks about turning national workforce priorities into real organisational capability, in the age of AI.

12:00 PM

Just For Kicks

(REPEAT) We look back at the semi final matches of the Carabao Cup that saw Arsenal and Man City booking their places in the final, and look ahead to Matchweek 25 of the EPL!

1:00 PM

A Bit of Culture

(REPEAT) Kam, Zan Azlee and Hafiz Noor Shams sit down together to talk about EPF retirement fund, James Brooke and the collapsing prestige of the west.

2:00 PM

Ringgit & Sense

(REPEAT) Ian Wong, Founder & CEO of Uno Advisers and licensed financial planner, shares the financial mistakes you don’t want to make in 2026.

2:30 PM

The Property Show

(REPEAT) Dr. Tan Loke Mun, Principal of DrTanLM Architect, assesses KL's River of Life project 15 years on.

3:00 PM

Best of The Bigger Picture

(REPEAT) What do the Epstein files teach us about power? To try and make sense of it all, we speak to Peter Beattie, Political Economist and Political Psychologist from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

4:00 PM

Best of Evening Edition

(REPEAT) With the launch of the Education Plan 2026–2035, we examine whether it can realistically deliver on the country’s ambitions as the government maps out its next decade-long direction for the education system.

5:00 PM

BBC World Service

This special episode of The Life Scientific features Dr. Eleanor Schofield, talking about her work conserving centuries-old wood and metal.