KUCHING: Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Sarawak is looking forward to the amendments on the Sarawak Labour Ordinance to be consistent with the amended Employment Act 1955 (EA 1955).
The amended EA1955 came into force on Jan 1 this year, which provides that working time will be shortened from 48 hours to 45 hours, paternity leave to be increased to seven days and maternity leave amended from 60 days to 98 day. But, these only apply to Peninsular Malaysia.
MTUC Sarawak secretary Chung Fui San said the union agreed with Deputy Human Resources Minister Mustapha Sakmud’s recent statement that Sarawak should amend its state labour ordinance, so that the workers in Sarawak can enjoy the same rights and benefits as in other states under the Federation of Malaysia.
She said the issue was brought up and discussed during a meeting with the Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala last March.
“So, we look forward to the amendment of the state’s labour ordinance to be implemented as soon as possible,” she said in a statement yesterday.
Mustapha on July 6 had said the governments of Sabah and Sarawak are advised to amend their respective state Labour Ordinance to be consistent with the amendments to the Employment Act 1955 (EA 1955).
Mustapha said the Sabah government had accepted the proposal for the amendment proposal but had yet to implement it.
Meanwhile, Sarawak has given positive feedback to examine the need to amend its Labour Ordinance so that the employees in the state will enjoy the same benefits as those in Peninsular Malaysia.
