PETALING JAYA: Tucked away in Malaysia’s broader cost-of-living support strategy, the Madani Workers’ Card quietly offers meaningful savings for trade union members, yet many remain unaware of its benefits.

While the digital card is intended for all active union members, awareness remains low, even among those employed in sectors with union representation.

For Zulhilmi Manan, 40, who works at a small local business, news of the Madani Workers’ Card came as a surprise.

“This is the first I’ve heard of it,” he said during an interview.

“It sounds like something I would definitely use. I mean, discounts at grocery stores, hotels and even theme parks? That’s great, especially when planning short holidays with the kids.

“But where do I even begin to sign up? Is there a website or an app?”

Others like Azura Mustafa, 36, from the agriculture sector, were equally puzzled by the programme’s low profile.

“No, I don’t know about this. Has this been widely reported? I’ve never seen any promotional banners at the outlets listed here on the website,” she said, after being shown the list of participating merchants on the Human Resources Ministry’s website.

Even those who had heard about the card expressed difficulty with navigating the sign-up process.

Finance sector employee Bilqis Azeera Halim, 32, said she had come across a mention of the card online a few weeks ago but struggled to find further information.

“I couldn’t figure out where or how to register, or what documents were required,” she said.

“It’s a good idea but if people can’t find clear instructions, they’ll just give up.”

Media workers who signed up for the card said the initiative was promising, though improvements are needed in terms of approval timelines and user communication.

Munirah Rizzuwan, 34, who works in the media industry, said she registered last week but had not yet received confirmation.

“I filled in all my details, including union information, but the system still shows my application as ‘under review’. A timeline or even a simple notification would help,” she said.

Muhammad Farhan Rushdi, 39, also from the media, found the registration process straightforward but said the processing period was unclear.

“It didn’t take long to register – just basic details like name, IC number, email and union affiliation. I’m still waiting for verification,” he said.

Despite a slow start, participating merchants, such as Mydin, are beginning to see growing usage.

Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said uptake was initially low but has since gained traction across their outlets.

“When it first started last month, very few used the card,” he said.

“But I checked with our outlets earlier. So far, a few thousand people have already started using it.”

He welcomed the initiative as a meaningful step to support unionised workers and urged participating merchants to offer generous discounts without imposing minimum spending requirements, especially since the programme is meant to benefit lower-income groups.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has also expressed support for the initiative, particularly amid ongoing concerns about rising living costs.

“We appreciate the government’s effort in introducing this initiative as a means to help ease the financial burden of union members. The NUJ encourages our members to take full advantage of the Madani Workers’ Card,” said the union’s spokesperson.

The card, which is available to registered union members, offers discounts of up to 30% at over 100 participating merchants.

Eligible members can unlock these perks by registering online, which activates a digital card with a QR code for use at select outlets.

For more details or to register, eligible union members can visit the official portal at https://kadpekerjamadani.mohr.gov.my