KUCHING, March 25, 2022 - The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Sarawak has asked the government to amend the Sarawak Labour Ordinance 1958 to be at par with the Employment Act 1955 (Act 265) in the next sitting of Parliament or otherwise extend the EA to the state.
Its secretary Andrew Lo (picture) said it has proven time and again that having separate laws has resulted in workers in Sabah and Sarawak being left behind.
“While we are pleased that workers in West Malaysia will get the eagerly awaited better benefits, very regretfully workers in Sabah and Sarawak will be left out as the EA does not covered the two states as they have their own separated Labour Ordinances,” Lo said in a statement.
He was commenting on the passage of the amendments to Employment Act in Parliament recently.
The Sarawak Labour Ordinance was last amended in Parliament in 2004.
The Employment (Amendment) Bill 2021 tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on March 21 is to extend the application of the Employment Act 1955 (Act 265) to all employees regardless of salary earned.
Among others, tyhe amendments are to enable all workers in the country to receive the minimum benefits and protection prescribed under Act 265.
Lo said the SLOs of Sabah and Sarawak are hopeless antiquated as the previous improvement to the Employment Act in 14 years ago in 2008 had yet to be incorporated.
“We don’t even have provisions for sexual harassment prevention and part time workers, but are already in the existing EA,” he said.
He said the Premier of Sarawak has proudly claim that he want Sarawak to lead the country in economic development, but he must also ensure that lead in the labour standards as well.
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