The National Joint Council (MBK) is an official platform for employer-employee relations in the Public Service provided by the Government involving Officers and Employees to discuss matters included in its jurisdiction. The implementation of MBK is based on Service Circular Number 6 of 2020 which comes into effect from 1 January 2021.

MBK was first established in 1973 through Service Circular Number 5 of 1973 to replace the National Whitley Councils of Parts I–IV Employees and the Industry and Manual Labour Groups, the National Joint Council for Teachers, Whitley Councils of Sabah and Sarawak, Departmental Whitley Councils, Relations Committees, and Joint Councils for Statutory Bodies and Local Authorities. The three (3) MBK established in 1973 are:

1. National Joint Council for Public Service Employees, including the Education Service;
2. National Joint Council for Employees in Statutory Bodies including Local Authorities; and 
3. National Joint Council for Police Service. 

The MBK was reviewed in 1979 to expand Employees’ participation. Consequently, through Service Circular No. 2 of 1979, the three MBK were dissolved and replaced by five (5) MBK as follows: 

1. National Joint Council for Public Service Employees excluding Lower Group Employees and Manual Labour; 
2. National Joint Council for Employees in Education Service; 
3. National Joint Council for Employees in Statutory Bodies; 
4. National Joint Council for Public Service Employees in Local Authorities; and
5. National Joint Council of Lower Group and Manual Labour in Public Service. 

In 1992, the existing MBK was reorganised through Service Circular Number 2 of 1992 in line with the implementation of the New Remuneration System (SSB). Changes to the MBK structure with the establishment of three (3) MBKs to replace the existing five (5) MBKs are as follows:

1. National Joint Council for Management and Professional Employees (MBK P&P);
2. National Joint Council for Science and Technology Employees in the Implementation Group (MBK S&T); and
3. National Joint Council for Employees in Implementation Group (MBK AM).

After 28 years, the MBK has been revised and improved to ensure that the Public Service employer-employee relationship policy remains relevant. In relation to that, the Government through Service Circular Number 6 of 2020 has agreed to maintain the existing MBK structure with some improvements. Among the improvements implemented are the membership of Officers, the establishment of the MBK Working Committee and the creation of special holiday on a workday of one (1) day per month for the Chairman and Secretary for the purpose of carrying out MBK-related matters and the use of the MBK annual grant is extended to the implementation of programs/workshops/seminars MBK Employees.

1. Gives opinions and discusses the principles on remuneration, allowances, facilities, and terms of service for public sector employees. The discussions are related to general policy matters on public service;
2. Enables Officers to suggest changes or inform on new developments in order to gather comments and views from Employees before presenting them to the Government for decisions; and
3. Make recommendations on innovation and productivity initiatives in improving the Public Service productivity system.

The establishment rules of MBK are subject to the constitution of the respective MBK as in Appendix A (MBK P&P), Appendix B (MBK S&T) and Appendix C (MBK General) in Service Circular Number 6 of 2020.

The MBK structure consists of:

1. Trade Union Officers

Permanent Members

Consists of consists of permanent members of officials appointed by the YAB Prime Minister of Malaysia based on their respective posts:

1. Director General of Public Service Department of Public Service - Chairman
2. Deputy Director General of Public Service (Development) Department of Public Service - Member
3. Director General of the Malaysian Administration Modernisation and Management Planning Unit - Member
4. Secretary-General of the Ministry of Human Resources - Member
5. Deputy Secretary-General of the Treasury (Management) Ministry of Finance - Member
6. Secretary-General of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry - Member
7. Secretary-General of the Ministry of Defence - Member
8. Secretary-General of the Ministry of Public Works - Member
9. Secretary-General of the Ministry of Education - Member
10. Head of the Division/Unit that manages the employer-employee relationship of the Public Service - Secretary of the Officers

Non-Permanent Member

It consists of senior officials of ministries/agencies including sections of the Public Service Department (JPA) who are invited based on the needs according to the issues raised in the meeting.

1. Trade Union Employees

Members of the MBK Trade Union are elected through the Trade Union selection convention which is held every two (2) years (bi-annually) by representatives of trade unions and associations affiliated with the MBK. The term of service is for two (2) years starting from the date that the Council holds its first meeting. Those members can continue to hold office until the members who will take over have been appointed/elected.

The Biennial Convention is implemented by the Trade Union based on certain regulations to select members of the MBK Trade Union to represent unions/associations in the Public Service.

Every trade union and association registered with the registrar of the Department of Trade Union Affairs (JHEKS) or the Department of Registrar of Societies Malaysia (ROS) and affiliated with the relevant MBK is allowed to send one representative for every first 500 members and one additional representative for every 500 members above the balance.

Relevant members are those who have paid fees according to the last Annual Report published by the Registrar. These additional representatives are allowed to participate in the convention only after clearing certain payments and being registered by the organiser (MBK Employees).

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 JPA 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. However, 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.

All government departments that directly handle administrative affairs, human resource management and financial affairs need to establish MBJ. The conditions of this establishment are not tied to the number of staff in a department.

For departments that meet the requirements for the establishment of MBJ, the meeting must be held in accordance with the established rules and regulations. MBJ is established with a specific format to ensure two (2) way communication occurs between Officers and Employees in meetings to reach mutual agreement on arising issues.

Apart from Government policy, individual matters or personal problems cannot be discussed in MBJ meetings and must be resolved administratively only. MBJ discussions should be focused on matters involving common interest.

The Parent Agency needs a copy of the minutes of the MBJ meeting of the departments under its supervision to monitor the activity and pay attention to the issues discussed and prepare a report to the JPA. A copy of the minutes is also required by JPA to check the validity of the report submitted by the Parent Agency.

MBJ members who are invited to attend meetings are allowed to claim travel allowances and other payments as permitted while carrying out official duties according to their respective qualifications.

Yes, the membership of the Trade Union Employees is a representative of the employees in the department involved, Grade 48 and below, is not involved in decision-making, is not a Division/Unit Head and is elected by the workers themselves. Its membership is limited to the composition found in the approved MBJ constitution.

Performance evaluation of MBJ activity for the states and the federal level only involves the list of agencies monitored by JPA. For agencies that are not monitored such as district and land offices, the implementation of MBJ can continue and be monitored by the State Secretary's Office.

The term "salaried officers" in the MBJ constitution means officers who serve in the agency, including permanent, contract, loan, cadre, and other appointed officers.

Employee membership in the MBJ constitution can be chosen according to the service division/grade/scheme according to the suitability of the membership in the agency concerned. The total membership needs to be stated so that the MBJ meeting quota can be determined, further ensuring that the implementation of the agency's MBJ meeting complies with the established rules.

Any amendment to the MBJ constitution must first be submitted to JPA for approval.