Twenty-six state and federal laws and regulations related to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) will need to be amended in two years' time.

International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed said the amendments could only be done after the signing of the trade pact by Putrajaya is approved by Parliament after debate on Jan 26 and 27 and the Senate on Jan 28.

He said the amendments, among others, involved the rights of migrant workers, but insisted that it was not about giving them equal rights to that of local workers.

"Not same rights, and this is still being discussed," he said, adding discussions between the Human Resource Ministry and related parties were still ongoing.

Speaking to reporters after briefing civil servants on the TPP in Putrajaya today, he gave an assurance that the amendment on foreign workers' rights would not affect civil servants and the structure of trade unions representing public sector employees such as the Congress of Union of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs).

Mustapa said the amendments would also involve Sabah and Sarawak and the Human Resource Ministry was in talks with both state governments on related amendments to their Labour Ordinance.

"Other amendments involved intellectual property rights and several circulars, including government procurement," he said, adding that the Attorney-General's Chambers had also started preliminary works related to the amendments.

- Bernama