UUM Journal of Legal Studies , Vol. 12, Number 2 (July) 2021, pp: 1–21 UUM JOURNAL OF LEGAL STUDIES http://e-journal.uum.edu.my/index.php/uumjls How to cite this article: Razak, A. S. S., & Mahmod, N. A. K. N. (2021). Embracing the Islamic principle of social justice in the Malaysian trade union movement. UUM Journal of Legal Studies, 12(2), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.32890/uumjls2021.12.2.1 EMBRACING THE ISLAMIC PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE MALAYSIAN TRADE UNION MOVEMENT ¹Siti Suraya Abd Razak & ²Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmod ¹Azman Hashim International Business School Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ²Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyah of Laws International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1Corresponding author:
[email protected] Received: 23/8/2020 Revised: 17/11/2020 Accepted: 25/11/2020 Published: 5/7/2021 ABSTRACT The notion of social justice in Islam requires fairness in allocating and distributing goods to all members and groups in society. In the context of employment, an employer is required to treat all workers equally and pay their dues suitable with their skills and capabilities. A trade union is an important component under the tripartite system of industrial relations that is imperative in representing workers to demand or improve their working conditions. Although there is legal recognition accorded to trade unions in Malaysia, various state-imposed restrictions have curtailed trade union actions in representing workers 1 UUM Journal of Legal Studies , Vol. 12, Number 2 (July) 2021, pp: 1–21 for better and equal treatment at the workplace. This paper examined whether the current trade union legal framework in Malaysia is in concord with the Islamic principles of social justice.