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Trade Unions Act 1959

TRADE UNIONS ACT 1959

AKTA KESATUAN SEKERJA 1959

Act 262 · consolidated to 15 Sep 2024 · 94 pp

Socio-economic rights
Consolidated to 15 September 2024. Amendments made after that date are not in this text. Check the AGC record for later amendments.
Why it matters

What this does to artists

Registration and regulation of trade unions. The statute any future arts or performers' union or guild would have to be built inside.

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What to read first

Section numbers read out of the AGC text itself

s.8Necessity for registration
s.23Liability in contract
s.26Membership of trade union
s.50Application of funds
Full arrangement of sections 98 sections · show / hide

Extracted from the AGC PDF on this page.

s.1Short title
s.2Interpretation
s.3Appointment of Director General
s.4Appointment of Deputy Director General and other officers
s.4APowers of Director General
s.5All officers to be public servants
s.6Protection of public servants
s.7Register of trade unions
s.8Necessity for registration
s.9Date of establishment of trade union
s.10Application for registration
s.11Temporary provisions relating to collection of funds
s.12Registration
s.13Certificate of registration
s.14Power of Director General to call for further particulars
s.15Cancellation of registration
s.16Prohibition on activities during period of notice of intended cancellation or determination of appeal
s.17(Deleted)
s.18Power of the Minister to suspend a trade union
s.19Consequences of failure to register or of cancellation of registration
s.20Disabilities of unregistered union
s.21Immunity from civil suit in certain cases
s.22Liability in tort
s.23Liability in contract
s.24Objects in restraint of trade not unlawful in case of registered trade union
s.25Proceedings by and against trade unions
s.25AStrikes and lock-outs
s.26Membership of trade union
s.27Membership of public officers and employees of statutory authorities
s.28Officers
s.29Employees of a trade union
s.30Power of Minister in relation to sections 28 and
s.31Change of name
s.32Amalgamation
s.33Transfer of engagements
s.34Notice of change of name or amalgamation
s.35(Repealed)
s.36Effect of change of name or amalgamation
s.37Registered office
s.38Rules
s.39(Repealed)
s.40Secret ballot
s.40AImposition of levy
s.41Notification of changes of officers and employees
s.42Notification of dissolution
s.43Trustees
s.44Decision of disputes
s.45Powers of the Court and Director General in relation to disputes
s.46Interpretation of “dispute” for the purpose of this Part
s.47All property vested in trustees
s.48Devolution of property
s.49Investment of funds
s.50Application of funds
s.50ACollection of funds and moneys
s.51Prohibition of payment of fines or penalties
s.52Prohibition of use of funds for political objects
s.53Injunction to restrain misuse of funds
s.54Preservation of funds of registered trade union
s.55Duty to render accounts
s.56Annual returns to be prepared as Director General may direct
s.57Keeping and inspection of accounts and records
s.58Regulations
s.59Acts done prior to registration
s.60Misuse of money or property of a registered trade union
s.61Supplying false information regarding trade unions
s.62Failure to submit returns
s.63General penalty
s.63APower of enforcement
s.63BEnforcement officer
s.63CPowers of examination
s.63DProduction, etc., of article or document
s.63ESeizure of article or document
s.64Prosecution and power to enter premises
s.65Saving of offences under other written law
s.65ALiability of president, secretary, treasurer etc., of trade union
s.66Act not to affect certain agreements or authorize action outside rules
s.67Legislation relating to societies and companies not applicable to trade unions
s.68Service of legal process
s.68AService of summons issued by the Director General
s.69Notification in the Gazette
s.70Inspection, production and evidence of documents of the Director General
s.71Power of Director General to summon witnesses
s.71AAppeal to Minister
s.71BAdmissibility of electronic record
s.72Formation of federation of trade unions
s.73Registration of federation of trade unions
s.74Affiliation with registered federation of trade unions
s.75Provisions and penalties applicable to federation of trade unions
s.76Decisions by secret ballot
s.76ARestriction on the formation of or affiliation with consultative or similar bodies
s.76BApplication for permission to form or affiliate with consultative bodies
s.76CPower of Director General to withdraw permission or declare affiliation invalid
s.76DDuty to inform the Director General of appointment to an office or employment in consultative bodies
s.76EApplication of Societies Act 1966 to consultative body
s.76FInterpretation of consultative or similar body
s.77Transitory provisions relating to existing trade unions
s.78Transitory provisions relating to existing federations
s.79Repeal
Who this reaches
Visual artsMusicFilm & TVPerforming artsLiterature, writing & publishingFashion & craftDigital & mediaMuseum & archivingContent creationEverything else
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