KUCHING: The Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) is reviewing its Trade Union Affairs Programme (PHEKS) grant framework to strengthen support for trade unions through more appropriate funding and grant categories.
Its secretary-general, Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof, said the review was expected to be completed within the next three months so its recommendations could be considered ahead of preparations for the 2027 Federal Budget.
He said the review would cover the existing grant clusters and funding allocations to ensure they remained relevant as the number of trade unions continued to increase following amendments to the Trade Unions Act.
“We have asked the Trade Union Affairs Department to review all the grant clusters and the allocations provided to trade unions.
“If the allocations remain the same despite the increasing number of trade unions, they will not be enough. Some unions currently receive grants of between RM5,000 and RM10,000, which are quite low.
“We want to determine the appropriate amount that can be allocated so trade unions can carry out more strategic and high impact activities,” he said.
He said this after officiating at the Sarawak-level Trade Union Affairs Programme (PHEKS) Grant Presentation at the Waterfront Hotel here today.
Azman said the ministry hoped the revised framework would enable trade unions to organise activities that contribute to increased worker productivity and the country’s economic growth.
“As the number of trade unions continues to increase, we need to review whether the allocations should be increased accordingly.
“We will prioritise strategic and high impact activities to ensure the funding delivers meaningful benefits for all parties.
“We will also seek input from trade unions on the types of courses and programmes they require to ensure any increase in funding is channelled towards the most appropriate initiatives,” he added.
For 2026, he said the government allocated RM6.1 million under PHEKS.
Of the total, RM3.5 million was allocated for programme implementation under various grant clusters involving 386 applications nationwide.
The remaining RM2.6 million was channelled towards outreach and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes.
In Sarawak, 60 applications were received under the 2026 PHEKS grants, with 23 trade unions awarded a total of RM310,000 to implement programmes focusing on organisational governance, leadership development, and enhancing the capacity and skills of union members.
