The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC; ) is a national trade union centre in Malaysia. It was formed in 1949 and was originally known as the Malayan Trades Union Council. It then changed its name to the Malayan Trades Union Congress in 1958, and then to its current name with the formation of Malaysia.
It operates as a federation of hundreds of affiliated trade unions, officially registered under the Societies Act, 1955.
MTUC is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation.
History The inception of the MTUC occurred during a tumultuous period marked by the declaration of the First Emergency against insurgent communist activities.
A previous umbrella union body called the Pan Malayan Federation of Trade Unions had even been outlawed by the British colonial authorities and workers' leaders such as SA Ganapathy and P Veerasenan were executed for alleged terrorist activity in May 1949.
Soon after, labour leader PP Narayanan emerged as a founder of the National Union of Plantation Workers. This union proved highly successful, becoming one of the strongest in the region, and in 1950 he was elected as president of the MTUC, aged only 27. He went on to serve as MTUC president for a total of 15 years spread over three spells.
Other notable MTUC leaders have included V David and Zainal Rampak, both of whom were from the Transport Workers Union, Yeoh Teck Chye of the National Union of Bank Employees, Govindasamy Rajasekeran of the Malaysian Metal Industry Employees' Union and Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud of the National Union of Transport Equipment & Allied Industries Workers.
In addition to their MTUC posts, David was also a five-term MP, while Zainal Rampak and Syed Shahir served spells in Malaysia's upper house, the Dewan Negara.
In 1990, a number of unions attempted to break away from the MTUC and formed the Malaysian Labour Organization as a rival umbrella body. However after seven years, the MLO decided to dissolve and its member unions rejoined the MTUC.
Similarly in 2006, after Zainal was defeated by Syed Shahir in the contest for MTUC president, a group of five unions allied to Zainal and led by Abdul Razak Hassan of the Railwaymen's Union of Malaysia attempted a split from the MTUC. They met with then HR Minister Fong Chan Onn, but the split did not materialise.
Recent leadership disputes In 2018, MTUC president Abdul Halim Mansor and secretary-general J Solomon traded barbs when supporting opposing coalitions in Malaysia's general election.
Solomon claimed that the Barisan National coalition was interfering in MTUC by getting Halim to endorse them, but at the same time, he urged members to vote for the rival Pakatan Harapan.
In September 2019, there was a tie in the election for MTUC president with Abdul Halim and Mohd Jafar Majid (National Union of Telekom Employees chief) ended up with the same number of votes. The leadership was paralysed until 2022 when Jafar sent a letter to the Registar of Societies to say he was pulling out of the race. leaving the president's post to Abdul Halim.
In August 2023, the Shah Alam High Court declared the 2022 MTUC triennial delegates' conference null and void for violation of several provisions in its constitution. After several months, the MTUC general council unanimously decided to retract its appeal over the matter, but MTUC secretary-general Kamarul Baharin Mansor admitted that the internal conflict has somewhat rendered the organisation powerless and weak.
Industrial relations expert R. Nagiah said in the past, about 20% of the nation's overall workforce were union members, but the number had plummeted to 6.2% by 2024.
On 4 February 2025 a group of MTUC officials announced that it had removed Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani as its president.
It said he was no longer authorised to use, represent or attend any events or meetings organised by the union, and was also barred from contesting for any MTUC positions for the next two terms.
"Any statements issued by Effendy after this no longer represent MTUC," claimed Dauzkaply Nor Ghazali said in a statement in which he named himself acting president.
However Effendy claimed that the action to remove him was illegal.
On 7 May 2026, MTUC was ordered by the Registrar of Societies to be temporarily dissolved after it has failed to submit several requested documentations and financial records. Following the temporary dissolution, multiple unions under the Labour Law Reform Coalition are working to form a new trade federation called the Malaysian Federation of Trade Unions. On 7 August, the Shah Alam High Court suspended MTUC's temporary dissolution.
Working Committee office bearers
2022-2025 President: Mohd Effendy Bin Abdul Ghani (UPCW) Deputy President: Matkar Bin Siwang (FIEU) Secretary General: Kamarul Baharin bin Mansor (NUMW) Deputy Secretary General: Mohd Khairi bin Man (EIWU) Financial Secretary: Wang Heng Suang (NUTP) Deputy Financial Secretary: Ng Choo Seong (ABOM) Vice President (Private Sector): Mohamad Dauzkaply Nor bin Ghazali (KEPAIM) Shatiri bin Mansor (CANON OPTO) Dzulkernain bin Hassan (KPPPTNB) A. Balasubramaniam (UNEPASS) Mohd Rais Hafizuddin bin Adnan (PERODUA) Mohd Khairul bin Buyang @ Buang (KPPIT) Michelle Cheow Yee Pin (Pentadbiran Insurans) Vice President (Public Sector): Aminuddin bin Awang (NUTP) Norhayati Abdul Rashid (MNU) Asman bin Mohd Nawawi (AUEGCAS) Vice President (Statutory Body): Alwi Shakir bin Abdullah (Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Tourism Malaysia) Basharuddin bin Harun (KKAPPUM) Mazmir bin Mohd Amin (UMGSU) Vice President (Women’s Committee): Nasrifah Binti Sukarni (NUPCIW) Vice President (Youth Chairman) : Mohd Sazuan bin Abdul Hadi (Kesatuan Kakitangan PERKESO)
Past leadership Year President Secretary General Financial Secretary 1950–51 P. P. Narayanan – NUPW X. E. Nathan – SSPWU M.P. Rajagopal – AMRWU 1951–52 1952–53 C.H. Yin – NUBE M. Arokiasamy – SGGSU V.M.N. Menon – AMESU 1953–54 Mohd Yusoff – PMSU Wong Pak Choy – GCSUS 1955–56 P.P. Narayanan – NUPW K.V. Thaver – NUT H.K. Choudhury – NUPW 1956–57 Tan Chong Bee K. Duraiappah – NUTE 1957–58 Mohd Yusoff – PMSU Bachee Saw – NUPW 1958–59 S.P.S. Nathan – NUPW 1959–60 Lum Kin Tuck – NUT S. Kaniappan – UPOW 1960–61 Ibrahim Musa – ANULAE Bachee Saw – NUPW 1961–62 V.E. Jesudoss – MTSU 1962–63 Yeoh Teck Chye – NUBE Ibrahim Musa – ANULAE Bachee Saw – NUPW 1963–64 Donald U’ren – RUM S.J.H. Zaidi – WDCSA C.A. Mathews – AMMISU 1964–65 V.E. Jesudoss – MTSU 1965–66 Yeoh Teck Chye – NUBE G. Perumal – NUPW 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1973–74 P.P. Narayanan – NUPW S.J.H. Zaidi – CSEU 1975–76 1977–78 Yahaya Mohd Ali – RUM V. Baradan – RUM 1979–80 V. David – TWU V. Ramiah 1981–82 V. Baradan – (until 1 Sept 81) Mok Kim Jin 1983–84 1985–86 P.P. Narayanan – (until 31 Dec 85) V. Palani – UMGSU Zainal Rampak 1987–88 Zainal Rampak – TWU S. Rajasegaram – AMESU 1989–90 G. Rajendram – SOAUH 1991–92 1993–Aug 93 Govindasamy Rajasekaran – MIEU Mohd Isa Jani – MASESU Dec 93–94 1995–96 N. Sivasubramaniam – NUTP (until Sept 97) 1997–98 A. Sivananthan – Selangor Textile 1998–2000 2000–04 2005–07 Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud – NUTEAIW 2007–10 Samuel Devadasan 2011–13 Mohd Khalid Atan Abdul Halim Mansor Awang Alias 2014-16 Khalid bin Atan N. Gopal Kishnam Awang Ibrahim 2016-20 Abdul Halim bin Mansor J. Solomon Ng Peng Ho 2020-22 Mohd Effendy bin Abdul Ghani (Acting) Kamarul Bahrin bin Mansor - 2022-25 Mohd Effendy bin Abdul Ghani Kamarul Bahrin bin Mansor Wang Heng Suan
Affiliates
Agriculture All Malayan Estates Staff Union (AMESU) Kesatuan Kakitangan Jabatan Pertanian Sarawak Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja FELDA Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan Malaysia Sabah Plantation Industry Employees Union Sabah Rubber Fund Board Employees Union Association of Agricultural Executives Sabah Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Felda Plantations Sdn. Bhd. Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Jabatan Hutan Sarawak Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Felda Rubber Products Sdn. Bhd. Kesatuan Eksekutif Felcra Bhd. Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Sabah Forest Industry Association Shell Oilfields Supervisory and Specialist Staff Union
Mining and Petroleum Kesatuan Kakitangan Petroleum Nasional Bhd (Petronas) Sarawak Kesatuan Kebangsaan Pekerja-pekerja Lombong Semenanjung Malaysia Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Esso Production Malaysia Inc. Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Kumpulan Shell Semenanjung Malaysia Sabah Mining Employees Union Sabah Petroleum Industry Workers Union Sarawak Petroleum Industry Workers Union Sarawak Shell Employees Union Sarawak Shell Oilfields Supervisory and Specialist Staff Union
Electricity and Water Kesatuan Kakitangan Lembaga Air Melaka Kesatuan Kakitangan Pihak Berkuasa Air Pulau Pinang Kesatuan Kakitangan Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn. Bhd. Kesatuan Sekerja Lembaga Air Sibu Sabah Water Industry Employees Union Sarawak Electricity Supply Corporation Employees Union TNB Junior Officers Union Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Indah Water Konsortium Sdn. Bhd. Kesatuan Eksekutif Syarikat Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn. Bhd. Kesatuan Jurutera-jurutera Sabah Electricity Sdn. Bhd. Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja SAJ Holdings Sdn. Bhd. Kesatuan Percantuman Pekerja-pekerja Tenaga Nasional Bhd. Persatuan Eksekutif Tenaga Nasional Bhd.
Commerce, Banking and Finance Association of Bank Officers Malaysia Association of Hong Kong Bank Officers Association of Maybank Class One Officers Association of Maybank Executives Kesatuan Kakitangan Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Bhd. (KESUKA) Kesatuan Kakitangan Eksekutif Bank of Commerce (M) Bhd. Kesatuan Pegawai-pegawai Bank Muamalat (M) Bhd. Kesatuan Sekerja Kakitangan Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Berhad National Union of Bank Employees National Union of Commercial Workers Sabah Banking Employees Union Sabah Commercial Employees Union Sarawak Bank Employees Union Kesatuan Pegawai-pegawai Bank Sabah Kesatuan Kakitangan Bank Simpanan Nasional Persatuan Pegawai-pegawai Pentadbiran Industri Insurans
Construction Union Of Employees in the Construction Industry
Manufacturing Cement Industry Employees Union Chemical Workers Union of Malaya DMIB Employees Union DMIB Management Staff Association Drink Manufacturing Industry Employees Union, Sarawak Electrical Industry Workers Unions F&NCC Beverages Sdn. Bhd. Executive Staff Union Johore Textile and Garment Workers Kesatuan Kakitangan Espek Sdn. Bhd. Kesatuan Kakitangan Perak – Hanjoong Simen Sdn. Bhd. Kesatuan Kakitangan Percetakan Keselamatan Nasional Berhad Kesatuan Pekerja MTC Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Perodua Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja SME Technologies Sdn. Bhd. Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Acrylic Textiles of Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Amalgamated Parts Manufacturers Sdn. Bhd. Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja APM Shock Absorbers Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Auto Parts Manufacturing (Seats & Radiators) Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Central Sugar Refinery Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Fujikura Federal Cable Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Gula Padang Terap Bhd. Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Harris Advanced Technology (M) Sdn. Bhd. Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Kian Joo Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Kilang Gula Felda Perlis Sdn. Bhd. Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Lucas Automotive Sdn. Bhd., Senai Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Malay-Sino Chemical Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Nippon Electric Glass (M) Sdn. Bhd. Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Perusahaan Kumpulan United Motor Works Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Perusahaan Membuat Tekstil dan Pakaian Perak Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Pewter Kraftangan Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Syarikat Gummi Metall Teknik (M) Sdn. Bhd. Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Sime Tyres International Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Tamura Electronics (M) Sdn. Bhd. Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Perusahaan Membuat Tekstil dan Pakaian Pulau Pinang dan Seberang Perai Machinery Manufacturing Employees' Union Malayan Sugar Manufacturing Employees' Union Metal Industries Employees' Union