CHAPTER 4 - REPORT OF THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS WORKING GROUP (iii) Business and labour rights • The Government maintained that labour laws now protect the rights of workers, but assured that these will be reviewed periodically to harmonise the relationship between employers, employees and trade unions. However, human rights and labour organisations argued that impending amendments to the labour laws would erode the rights of workers, as the proposals favour the interests of employers. • Malaysia has yet to ratify the International Labour Organisation Convention 87 on freedom of association and protection of the right to organise; Convention 105 on abolition of forced labour; and Convention 111 on discrimination in employment and occupation. • While Malaysia permits all workers to join unions, the conditions imposed on migrant workers have made it difficult for them to unionise. • While sexual harassment is known to affect many workers, some employers still refuse to implement the recommended code of practice to prevent harassment in the workplace. • The representation of persons with disabilities (PWD) in the private sector is very low. In some instances, PWD are not employed because the company does not have the necessary facilities to enable the PWD to work effectively. Thus, there is a need for the private sector to ensure proper facilities are in place to ensure employment opportunities for PWD. (iv) Business and the environment • The profit-oriented nature of private businesses has led to aggressive exploration and exploitation of resources without due consideration of the impact of such conduct on the environment. The Government has a duty to ensure that companies comply strictly with rights-based policies that stress, among others, the human right to a clean and safe environment. These RTDs have enabled the Commission to identify primary concerns in current business practices, specifically those that adversely affect human rights. 5. WOMEN’S RIGHTS – RIGHTS OF SINGLE MOTHERS On 20 October, the ECOSOCWG organised a seminar on the rights of single mothers. This was in line with the Commission’s efforts to raise awareness of women’s rights as guaranteed by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), especially the articles relating to economic, social and cultural rights; to raise awareness of Government policies 73