BETONG: The Sarawak Bank Employees’ Union (SBEU) and the Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC) have welcomed the enforcement of the Sarawak Labour Ordinance (Amendment) 2025, which officially takes effect on Thursday (May 1).
SBEU chief executive officer Andrew Lo Kian Nyan expressed strong support for the enforcement order issued by Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong, noting that the amendments had been long-awaited.
“Its enforcement is very timely with this year’s Labour Day celebration,” said Lo, who also serves as LLRC deputy president.
While the process had taken time, he said it was a necessary step toward protecting workers’ rights in Sarawak.
He also stressed that the Sarawak government and the Ministry of Human Resources must collaborate to ensure employers are ready to implement the Minimum Standards of Housing for Workers provisions.
“This provision outlines the basic requirements that employers must follow when providing accommodation for workers, bringing Sarawak’s labour protections closer to those in Peninsular Malaysia.”
According to the Federal Government Gazette dated April 28, the Sarawak Labour Ordinance (Amendment) 2025 [Act A1754] takes effect on May 1, 2025, with the exception of Part IVA.
The amended ordinance was tabled and passed in the Dewan Rakyat on December 12, 2024.
Key updates include expanding the scope of the ordinance to cover all employees — regardless of wage level or job type — instead of only those earning RM2,500 and below.
Other major changes include increasing maternity leave from 60 to 98 days, introducing seven days of paternity leave, and reducing the maximum weekly working hours from 48 to 45. The amendments also provide for flexible working arrangements, establish minimum standards for housing and amenities, and introduce channels for lodging workplace discrimination complaints.