The human resources ministry has dismissed claims that the government blocked the participation of labour representatives to the now-concluded 2025 International Labour Conference (ILC).
The ministry said the non-representation of workers at the conference held in Geneva was caused by the absence of legitimate leadership in the Malaysian Trade Unions Congress (MTUC), the country’s largest trade union umbrella organisation.
“In February, the Court of Appeal ordered MTUC to conduct a re-election of its leadership within 90 days under the watch of a joint special committee,” it said in a statement today.
“This election was later postponed to August, leaving MTUC without a legitimate leadership to represent workers in any official platform.”
The ministry stressed that the selection of the Malaysian delegation to the ILC was made transparently under the guidelines of the International Labour Organization, after seeking advice from the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
It also urged MTUC to expedite its re-election to restore stability to the trade union movement and ensure Malaysia’s full participation in the ILC next year.
On June 4, Malaysiakini reported that the joint special committee’s chairman, J Solomon, denied knowledge of needing to hold an election within three months of the committee’s formation.
He had earlier criticised the government for failing to register labour delegates for the ILC.
