Win in Malaysia: Organizing campaign leads to union recognition at AEON

A decade-long organizing effort at AEON Co. Malaysia finally paid off when the company’s management team handed a letter of voluntary recognition to the president of the AEON Co. Workers’ Union in a ceremony at Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with UNICOME* Labour Forum on 6 June 2023.

The recognition letter was handed over by Dr. Kasuma Satria Bin Mat Jadi, Chief Human Resources Officer, to Sister Hamidah Binti Mohamad, President of AEON Co. Workers Union.

The ceremony was witnessed by Mr Seko Tsugutoshi, Deputy Managing Director of AEON Co. (M) Bhd and Datuk Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal, President of UNI Malaysian Liaison Council (UNI MLC), as well as members of the AEON Human Resources team and the AEON Co. Workers Union committee members.

Seko Tsugutoshi congratulated the union’s tireless efforts over the years and their well-deserved success in obtaining recognition from the company.

Thanking Brother Shafie for his guidance and support for the AEON Co. Workers Union as well as his firm conviction in the “Smart Partnership,” Mr. Tsugutoshi said, “This smart partnership is a good platform for us to strengthen and harmonize employer and employee relationships and create a conducive working environment, and ultimately serve as the key ingredient for us to achieve the greater goal and better achievement for the company.”

UNI MLC President Shafie praised the AEON Co. management for their wise decision and the union leaders’ fortitude. He said, “With this recognition, AEON Co. Workers Union will be Malaysia’s largest Commerce Sector Union. I look forward to the union achieving its first collective agreement, which will benefit approximately 6,000 AEON Co. (M) Bhd workers.  I also thank UNI Asia & Pacific, UA Zensen and the Federation of AEON Group Workers Unions, Japan, for their unstinting collective support over the years to help organize the union.”

UNI Asia & Pacific Regional Secretary Rajendra Acharya said, “We are very heartened that the UNI MLC’s painstaking efforts finally paid off. Congratulations to AEON Co. Malaysia’s management and the newly recognized AEON Co. Workers Union!”

*UNICOME is the Commerce sector of UNI MLC representing commerce and retail workers.