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Between Capital and Labour: Trade Unionism in Malaysia

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Labour and Unions in Asia and Africa

Part of the book series: Macmillan International Political Economy Series ((IPES))

Abstract

In capitalist societies, relations between capital and labour are the key social and central political issues. An understanding of the nature of the relationship between these two major groups and their agents, e.g. trade unions, employer organisations, the state, is prerequisite to an understanding of the structure of any any capitalist social formation. This chapter will examine the dynamics of the relationship between capital, labour and the state in peninsular Malaysia.2

This paper forms part of a wider study of foreign investment, industrialisation and development in Malysia, funded by the Australian Research Grants Scheme and carried out with the assistance and co-operation of the Centre for Policy Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang. The author is indebted to a number of people for discussions on the issues which are the subject of this paper. In particular, thanks are due to Lim Teck Ghee, University of Malaya; Chan Lean Heng, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang; Trisha Todd, University of Malaya and Chandra Muzaffar, Aliran, Penang. Of course the usual disclaimers apply.

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© 1988 Roger Southall

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O’Brien, L. (1988). Between Capital and Labour: Trade Unionism in Malaysia. In: Southall, R. (eds) Labour and Unions in Asia and Africa. Macmillan International Political Economy Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-18790-4_6

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