The National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) is seeking one million signatures in a nationwide petition to support its call for 90 days of maternity leave for working women.

The campaign, to be launched in conjunction with International Women’s Day on March 8, will include other programmes to create awareness of the contributions of women workers and the need to add to their benefits.

NUBE said the provision for 90 days of maternity leave is in accordance with International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention No. 183.

j solomon nube sec gen 290806 calm General secretary J Solomon said in a statement today that “this would be the greatest gift to Malaysia’s five million working moms from the PM, in accordance with his 1Malaysia concept”.

The campaign follows on the less-than-enthusiastic response of Human Resource Minister Dr S Subramaniam who said “the ministry would study a proposal by the union to amend the Employment Act 1955 to increase maternity leave”.

The union made its initial demand last Wednesday. At the time, Bernama quoted Solomon as saying that Singapore provides 112 days of maternity leave while Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines provide 90 days each.

In contrast, Malaysian women workers are given 60 days off.