Declining trade union membership in Malaysia: Gig economy challenges, legal constraints and implications for labour protection

Abstract

As the gig economy grows, the economy changes, and there is political resistance, this study looks at the trend of union membership and union power in Malaysia. As long as there have been workers in Malaysia, trade unions have been very important. They look out for the interests of factory workers in particular. Workers are spread out more now that the job economy and the shift toward a service-based economy have grown. This makes it harder for unions to get people to work together. The Trade Unions Act of 1959 and the political opposition make this situation even worse. The unions can't effectively represent the workers. This paper is aimed at discussing such factors, presenting recommendations through which unions could regain influence and, not least, considering the influence of legal and economic restrictions on workers' rights. This paper, through qualitative analysis, suggests that some of the major steps could be lobbying for legal reforms, adapting strategies of unions for the gig economy, and alliances with advocacy groups. These actions are crucial in reversing the decline in union membership and improvement in labor protection in Malaysia.