Government Allocates RM3.5 Million For PHEKS Grant To Strengthen Trade Unions

KUALA LUMPUR,  Sept 10 (Bernama) -- A total of RM3.5 million has been allocated under the 2026 Trade Union Affairs Programme (PHEKS) Grant to strengthen the capacity of the country’s trade unions in navigating changes in the world of work driven by artificial intelligence (AI), automation and digitalisation, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan.

He said the allocation, distributed in June and July, reflected the government’s commitment to ensuring that trade unions remained resilient and equipped to respond to evolving labour market trends.

“These changes are not only transforming the nature of work and the skills required by industries but are also influencing how workers are protected, represented and prepared for the future job market.

“Trade unions must keep pace with the changing landscape of work. We want unions that are not only vocal in championing workers’ rights but also possess the knowledge, credibility and capacity to understand the new challenges facing workers,” he said.

Ramanan said this when officiating the 2026 National Trade Union Convention, themed ‘Towards Creating Progressive, Principled, and Dynamic Trade Unions’, here today.

He also stressed the importance of integrity, professionalism and good governance among trade union leaders, saying a union’s strength depended not only on its membership but also on workers’ confidence in its leadership.

“A union’s strength relies not only on membership numbers but also on workers’ confidence in its leadership.

“Unions must remain close to workers. They need to be aware of what is happening in workplaces, understand workers’ concerns and be capable of effectively bringing those voices to the negotiating table,” he said.

According to Ramanan, tripartite cooperation among the government, employers and workers must also be further strengthened to ensure that workers’ welfare, business sustainability and national economic progress advance in tandem.

“The Ministry also calls upon trade union leaders nationwide to continue serving as credible voices for workers by staying close to their members, while simultaneously playing a greater role in national development,” he said.

--  BERNAMA