Ministry asks Sabah, Sarawak to amend Labour Ordinance

Sabah and Sarawak have been advised to amend their respective state Labour Ordinance to be consistent with the amendments to the Employment Act 1955 (EA 1955), said Deputy Human Resources Minister Mustapha Sakmud.

He said the amendment, which can only be made through the approval of the state legislatures in Sabah and Sarawak, will allow local workers in both regions to enjoy the same rights and benefits as people in other states under the Federation of Malaysia.

“As for the situation in Sabah, they have agreed (to amend) but it has not been implemented.

“In Sarawak, we have asked the Sarawak government to discuss and amend,” Mustapha told the media after attending the closing ceremony of the 2023 Labour Law Enforcement Convention in Kuching yesterday.

He said he paid a courtesy visit to the Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration, and Project Monitoring) Gerawat Gala to discuss and obtain the state government’s views on the matter.

Sarawak gave positive feedback to examine the need to amend its Labor Ordinance so that workers in the state enjoy the same benefits as those in Peninsular Malaysia, he added.

The Employment Act (Amendment) 2022 only came into force on Jan 1 this year, which among other things provides that working time be shortened from 48 hours to 45, paternity leave be increased to seven days, and maternity leave amended from 60 days to 98.

The convention themed ‘Empowering Enforcement Officers, Embracing Aspirations of Malaysia Madani’ lasted two days to cover labour and enforcement issues in domestic laws as well as international labour standards.

- Bernama

S'wak MTUC miffed over lack of inclusivity in Employment Act amendments

Minister: Amendments to Employment Act to take effect on Sept 1

LLRC echoes call to apply Employment Bill benefits to East M'sians

Yeoh urges govt to cushion impact of impending new employment laws