Llrc Echoes Call To Apply Employment Bill Benefits To East Malaysians

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The Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC) has voiced support for urgent amendments to the Sabah Labour Ordinance and Sarawak Labour Ordinance.
This is to provide East Malaysian workers with the same benefits provided under amendments to the Employment Act 1955.
The recent Employment Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 which was passed in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (March 21) included provisions on paternity and maternity leave, among others.
LLRC representatives N Gopal Krishnam and Irene Xavier in a statement echoed the call made by Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Sarawak that the Sabah and Sarawak labour ordinances must be amended in line with federal law.
"The government must streamline the labour laws in East and West Malaysia, uphold the principle of constitutional equality in labour law reform exercise," said the duo.
They cited Article 8 of the Federal Constitution that all persons are equal before the law and for there to be no discrimination against citizens based on their place of birth.
"Given the Parliament will be reconvened in April to debate the Anti-Hopping Bill, we urge the government to include the amendments of Sabah and Sarawak Labour Ordinances, as well as the Trade Union Bill 2022, in the special Parliament sitting.
"Furthermore, we would like to recommend that any future labour law amendments should be grouped as '3 in 1' bundle," they said.
LLRC representative Irene XavierThe bundle is in reference to the Employment Act, Sabah Labour Ordinance, and Sarawak Labour Ordinance.
The duo also noted that Parliament had last December passed the Federal Constitution amendment to restore the equal status of Sabah and Sarawak, and so lawmakers should show more respect for the equal rights of East Malaysian citizens.
"Failing to do so will defeat the purpose of making Borneo states as equal partners in the Federation," they added.
LLRC is endorsed by 58 trade unions from various sectors, as well as worker organisations.
Yesterday, Sarawak MTUC secretary Andrew Lo explained that worker rights in the two territories were governed by separate labour ordinances - the Sabah Chapter 67 and Sarawak Chapter 76 (SLOs).
These are federal legislation that needs to be amended in Parliament.
Lo also pointed out there were several amendments to the Employment Act over the years but none were introduced into the SLOs for the benefit of workers in Sabah and Sarawak. - Mkini

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