Joint Department Council
National Joint Council (MBK)
The National Joint Council (MBK) is a national-level consultative platform for all schemes of service. MBK representatives consist of union and association members who are civil servants currently working at federal/state ministries/departments, statutory bodies, and local authorities. The approval for MBK establishment was by the decision of the Cabinet Committee on the Establishment and Salaries of Public Sector Employees (JKK-MPSA) or currently known as the Cabinet Committee on Public Service Transformation (JKK-TPA).
Through Service Circular No. 5, Year 1973, three (3) MBK and Departmental Joint Council (MBJ) were established to replace Whitley National Councils for Employees Parts I-IV and Industry and Manual Labour Groups, National Joint Council for Teachers, Whitley Councils of Sabah and Sarawak, Departmental Whitley Councils, Relations Committees, and Joint Councils for Statutory Bodies and Local Councils. The MBK was reviewed in 1979 to expand Employees’ participation. Consequently, through Service Circular No. 2 Year 1979, the three MBK were dissolved and replaced by five (5) MBK as follows: In 1992, the Cabinet Committee on the Establishment and Salaries of Public Sector Employees had reviewed the public sector relations machinery in line with the implementation of the New Remuneration System (SSB) that became effective on 1 January 1992. SSB has brought several major changes to the Public Service sector. The most significant change is the classification of the service group levels to only three (3) groups – Top Management Group, Managerial and Professional Group, and Support Group. In principle, the new platform encompasses all schemes of service with representatives from the unions and associations from federal/state ministries/departments, statutory bodies and local authorities.
MBK has the following roles:
The establishment rules of the Councils are subject to their respective constitutions as per Appendices A, B, and C, Service Circular No. 2 Year 1992.
The MBK structure consists of:
The MBK’s biennial convention is a programme organised by MBK Employees based on the established rules. Each trade union and association registered with the registrar (Department of Trade Union Affairs (JHES), Ministry of Human Resources, or the Registrar of Societies Malaysia (ROS), Ministry of Home Affairs) and affiliated with the MBK is allowed to send a representative for the first 500 first members and an additional representative for every remaining 500 members. The related members are those who have paid their fees based on the previous Annual Report published by the Registrar. The additional representatives are allowed to participate in the convention only after making certain payments and being registered by the organiser (MBK Employees).
Departmental Joint Council (MBJ)
The Departmental Joint Council (MBJ) is a two-way forum that provides a channel for Employees to communicate with the Management in voicing their opinions and views and contributing ideas for the interest and benefit of the organisation.
All Government agencies that handle the administration, human resources management and financial affairs directly and have the authority to consider and decide on those matters are required to establish an MBJ. For this purpose, a draft constitution must be prepared and agreed upon by the Management and Employees for submission to PSD for approval.
The scope, area, and functions of MBJ emphasise on the interests of employees in an organisation. In addition to resolving the issues faced by employees, the MBJ can also serve as a forum for discussions between the management and employees. An active MBJ will indirectly boost employees’ motivation to work in order to serve with greater dedication and productivity.
The matters that may be discussed include everything related to working conditions except those concerning government policies or personal matters. Policy-related issues may only be discussed for the purpose of explaining the implementation aspects. Among the matters that may be discussed in the forums are issues concerning allowances and benefits, finance, service, schemes of service and posts, welfare, administration, and others.
Among the benefits accruing from MBJ meetings are in promoting a positive relationship and behaviour between the management and employees, satisfaction, increased productivity, improved work quality, cost savings, employee advancement, mutual respect, problem solving, loyalty to the organisation and unity.
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