Group: Since when employers dictate labour law implementation?

The Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC) questioned the trend in Malaysian businesses dictating implementation dates of amendments to labour laws.

In a statement, the group that represents 58 trade unions, NGOs and migrant organisations asked if businesspersons were now deciding the right time to implement Malaysian laws instead of elected leaders.

As such, they called upon the Human Resources Ministry to stick to the Sept 1 date for new clauses in the Employment Act 1955 (Act 265) to take effect, instead of pushing it to next year.

“We are saddened by the postponement. This is not the first time such a thing had happened as the government had relented to similar requests for delays in the implementation of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act.

“We urge the government not to succumb to the pressure and delay tactics employed by business owners.

“Even when the Dewan Rakyat passed the bill in October 2019, the law only came into force on Jan 1, 2021, with a lot of reservations,” said the group.

On Friday, Human Resources Minister M Saravanan announced that the implementation of Employment Act amendments will be delayed to Jan 1 next year, instead of taking effect on Sept 1.

This, he added, would give time for employers, who are facing workers shortage, more time to beef up their workforce using migrant labour.

Yesterday, the Electrical Industry Workers’ Union, representing 12,000 workers, rebuked the minister over his tacit approval of employers’ request for delays.

Making voters livid

Among the new amendments in Act 265 include 45-hour work per week, an extension of maternity leave from 60 days to 98 days, a restriction on the termination of pregnant employees and the introduction of paternity leave for married male workers.

The rights are also applicable to migrant workers in Malaysia.

On that note, LLRC pointed out the flawed arguments made by employers, reminding the government that the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) had attended many meetings before the bill was tabled in Parliament and was aware of the impending changes.

“With the general election around the corner, this delay sends a negative signal to Malaysian voters,” they said.

The coalition also said that elected leaders must take workers’ rights seriously as the latter form the bulk of their constituents.

The amendments were passed at the Parliament in March and received royal assent on April 26. It was published in the Federal Government Gazette on May 10.

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