LETTER | In any worthwhile and successful endeavour there is always a collective effort that is executed, based on a deep sense of purpose. Such deep purpose in the body polity or industrial relations emanates from a sense of direction that is beyond partisan, ideological and profiteering mindsets.

In the political context, there are times where there is strong bipartisan support that focuses on the common good that helps the nation to move in a progressive direction.

For example, the bipartisan support in supporting law permitting automatic voting rights to 18-year-old youths created history in the country that moved Malaysia to a new trajectory of how youths are recognised and appreciated in the political development of the country.

In the same token, it would serve the nation’s common good for politicians of all political stripes to pay attention to Malaysia’s most critical and essential issue of time, which is its labour standards. After 60 years of independence, we have yet to ratify certain basic, progressive International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.

One of the reasons of brain drain where our brightest Malaysians are leaving to advance economies such as Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, is due to our country’s labour standards that are conservative and piecemeal lacking in consensus on long-term strategic development.

While the current Human Resources Ministry has come up with proposed amendments to meet international standards, there is lack of support and acknowledgement among the mainstream opposition parties that are too focused on race and religious issues, and the corporate world, which seems to prefer a mere profit-and-cost calculation in regard to labour standards.

If these trends continue, we will be overtaken by Asian countries like Vietnam, which is are moving to increase its Labour Standards. For example, in terms of adhering to progressive ILO Conventions, Vietnam has ratified 24 conventions, with one denounced and three ratified.

Malaysia has only ratified 18 conventions, with 14 in force, one convention denounced three instruments abrogated. It is obvious that the success of Vietnam would not have been possible if there is no bipartisan and industry support to increase the standards of labour practices.

Towards this end, it is vital that the Human Resources Ministry, employers, trade unions and the opposition should come up with a consensus on moving labour standards forward by identifying critical conventions to be ratified in the year 2020 in Geneva.

Among the major conventions that need to be ratified are C087 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise; C111 on Discrimination (Employment and Occupation); C122 on Employment Policy; C142 on Human Resource Development; and C190 on Violence and Harassment.

A national political and industrial consensus in upgrading our labour standards is vital not only to retain our brightest talent, but also to attract the best talents from Asian countries, rather than forever depending on cheap labour to drive our economy.

We need a strong national consensus to raise our labour standards to meet the challenges in attracting and retaining the best talents.

RONALD BENJAMIN is secretary of the Association for Community and Dialogue.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.