BBUI3103 / Employment and Industrial Law
Business School
MAY 2018
BBUI3103
EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL LAW
NO. MATRIKULASI
:
940817045204-001
NO. KAD PENGNEALAN
:
940817045204
NO. TELEFON
:
01116515960
E-MEL
:
[email protected]
PUSAT PEMBELAJARAN
:
Oum Melaka
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BBUI3103 / Employment and Industrial Law
Introduction and background of the sources of employment law in Malaysia
The relationship between employer and employee is not covered by clear labor laws in
the past. This means that employers have unmanageable power and are free to do
something they want to work with. The workers were oppressed and did not receive a fair
service. Workers are not like slaves where their fate and future lie entirely in the hands of
employers.
The industrial revolution in Europe began to raise the working class in demanding their
rights and its influence spread to other countries around the world. For example in Britain
workers have become a strong group so they can dominate the local political world and
the Labor Party has once led the country's leadership.
Labor laws are introduced gradually. Employee and labor relations are governed by labor
laws even though they are still free to enter into contracts and agree on certain terms.
Every term of their contract of service must not be against the law. The law has
guaranteed things like wages, working hours, holidays and so on.
In Malaysia, relations between employers and workers are also governed by labor laws.
The development of labor laws in Malaysia began when many Chinese and Indian
laborers were brought into Malaya to work in the mines and rubber fields. The rapid
growth and development of the ore mines and rubber estates in Malaya increased from
time to time, and the number of labor was also increasing. The Chinese and Indian
laborers were brought in by the British who were miners or rubber miners through certain
agents.
Initially, Chinese laborers contracted for work in ore mines for a certain period, and after
that, they were released to look for other jobs. Part of their wages were deducted to repay
the expenses of bringing them into Malaya. The state of work at that time was very bad
and they were suppressed.
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BBUI3103 / Employment and Industrial Law
Similarly, Indian workers were brought into Malaya. Most of them are from South India
and they work in Malaya in sugar cane fields and rubber fields. They are also bound
under an agreement system to work in the estates for a period of two or three years. Some
of them continue to work in the estates and some work in various sectors, especially with
the government. There is no specific law to protect the workers. The way the British
merchants use is to appoint a leader from the races themselves to manage their affairs.
For example, in 1877, a Chinese Protector was appointed in the Straits Settlements to
guard the affairs of Chinese workers and to prevent oppression.
