KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Labour Ordinance amendment bill, aims to improve the protection and welfare of workers in the state, will be presented in Parliament soon, said Deputy Human Resources Minister Mustapha Sakmud.

The proposed amendments will include increasing the maternity leave eligibility period from the current 60 days to 98 days and paternity leave from three days to seven days, he said.

"The proposed bill is now with the Attorney General's Chambers and hopefully, it will be passed in Parliament and enforced before the year-end," he told reporters after officiating the 8th Borneo Occupational Safety and Health Conference and Exhibition 2023 (BOSH) at the Sabah International Convention Centre here.

"It is high time for us to amend the Sabah Labour Ordinance to be standardised with the Employment Act 1955," he said, adding that the last amendment to the ordinance was made in 2005.

The 98 days of paid maternity leave for mothers kicked off in Peninsular Malaysia on January 1, 2023.

"However, in Sabah, it took a little bit of time for the amendments because the country has three sets of laws - the Employment Act, Sabah Labour Ordinance, and Sarawak Labour Ordinance," he said.

The amendments to the ordinance require approval from the state government and feedback from employers, workers' unions, and non-governmental organisations to ensure that the law is suitable for Sabah, he said.

"Now that part has been settled as the Sabah cabinet has agreed to the amendments to standardise with the Employment Act because this has been an international standard practice," he said.

Regarding BOSH 2023, which was hosted between Sabah and Sarawak on a rotational basis, he said the two-day event has attracted 350 participants, including 50 foreigners from the Philippines, Brunei, and Indonesia.

He said the event, which included conferences, seminars, and advocacy, has contributed to an increased level of awareness of the importance of emphasising the safety and health of workers in Sabah.

Mustapha encouraged more companies in Sabah to participate in award competitions such as the National Occupational Safety and Health Awards to gauge the standard of their practices.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/06/922285/amended-sabah-labour-law-better-protect-workers