Deputy human resources minister Abdul Rahman Mohamad said the Industrial Relations Act 1967 provided for such action upon the filing of complaints.

“The human resources ministry is committed to ensuring that the rights and freedom of workers to form and join labour unions are fully safeguarded,” he told the Dewan Rakyat.

He was responding to Tan Hong Pin (PH-Bakri), who had asked about the outcome of the department’s investigations into the complaints lodged against the firms, whose names are being withheld.

On July 24, FMT reported that 80 police reports were filed against one of the firms in question, which is based in Penang, for alleged union-busting activities.

According to the Electronics Industry Employees Union Northern Region, the company’s management intimidated employees to discourage them from taking part in a secret ballot held between July 14 and July 15.

The ballot was to gauge union support among workers.

Rahman said the ministry received 246 complaints on union busting in the past decade, 158 of which were resolved through negotiations.

Twenty-four cases are still being acted on while the remaining 64 cases have been referred to the Industrial Court.