KUCHING: The Labour Solidarity and Learning Resources Association (LLRC), formerly known as the Labour Law Reform Coalition, has urged the Sabah and Sarawak governments to take swift action in tabling the Sabah Labour Ordinance and Sarawak Labour Ordinance in Parliament during the October 2023 session.
“LLRC welcomes the green light given by the Sabah and Sarawak governments on Sabah Labour Ordinance and Sarawak Labour Ordinance.
We urge the governments to ensure that the two bills are tabled in the parliament in October 2023. The governments should make sure the updated Sabah Labour Ordinance and Sarawak Labour Ordinance are on par with the Federal government’s Employment Act (Amendment) 2012 and the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities (Amendment) Act 2019,” it said in a press statement yesterday (Sept 15),
The call comes following the LLRC Sabah and Sarawak Leaders’ Joint Advocacy Planning Meeting held on September 15 in Kota Kinabalu, attended by 20 union leaders representing sectors including banking, hotel, medical services, postal services, timber, plantation, commercial, port, petroleum, and beverages.
LLRC stressed that trade unions and workers in East Malaysia have persistently sought equal labour standards with their West Malaysian counterparts for decades.
“We are disappointed that the outdated labour ordinances have permitted discrimination and exploitation of workers in East Malaysia,” they said.
LLRC also asserted that the current situation of “one country, three sets of labour laws” must be rectified.
“In the future, amendments to the Employment Act, Sabah Labour Ordinance, and Sarawak Labour Ordinances should be tabled simultaneously in Parliament without delay,” it said.
