The Human Resources Ministry (Kesuma), through the Department of Trade Union Affairs (JHEKS), has approved 369 financial aid requests, amounting to RM3.2 million, for registered trade unions across the nation this year.
Mohd Asri Abdul Wahab, the Director-General of Trade Unions, announced that this one-time financial support falls under the Trade Union Affairs Programme (PHEKS) and addresses six specific activity clusters. These clusters include training and educational programmes, research on trade union movements, scholarly writing on labor-related issues, procurement of information and communication technology equipment, development of e-learning modules in video simulation format, and initial group insurance purchases for eligible members.
"This year, we received an unprecedented number of applications for the PHEKS programme, totaling 1,206 from various trade unions nationwide, with a requested allocation exceeding RM65 million. However, only 369 applications, involving RM3.2 million, were approved after a thorough screening process, which considered several key criteria," Mohd Asri shared with reporters after the PHEKS Aid 2024 presentation event for the Southern Zone today.
Among the criteria for approving financial assistance applications were the size and previous aid status of the trade unions, the active status of the unions, and their consistent submission of reports, including financial statements. The aim of this allocation is to support and strengthen the trade union movement, creating an educational platform to enhance leadership skills among union members through continuous learning.
"This initiative is intended to foster a mature and progressive trade union movement in Malaysia, aligning with international standards by implementing the Malaysia Madani concept," Mohd Asri explained.
At the event, Mohd Asri announced that 84 applications, totaling RM670,000, were approved for the Southern Zone, which includes the states of Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, and Johor. Specifically, 26 applications from Melaka received RM141,700, 22 applications from Negeri Sembilan received RM158,300, and 36 applications from Johor were allocated RM370,000.
This targeted financial support aims to empower smaller and previously unaided trade unions, ensuring they remain active and capable of contributing effectively to the labor movement in Malaysia. By enhancing educational and technological resources, the programme seeks to elevate the leadership and operational capacities of these unions, promoting a more dynamic and internationally comparable trade union environment in the country.
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