KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government would look into mitigation measures over potential negative impacts on stakeholders due to amendments to the Sabah Labour Ordinance.
State Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe said that he had received mixed responses on the move to align the state with federal laws concerning workers.
Anticipating potential negative impacts on small-scale industries, Phoong said that he raised this concern during a state cabinet meeting.
"Sabah is still carefully examining the situation. How can small companies afford to meet the increased entitlements for workers?
"However, while respecting the essence of the new amendments to the Labour Ordinance, there is always room for discussion to mitigate their impact."
He spoke to the media after launching a mobile application for a restaurant near here yesterday.
Phoong, who is also DAP Luyang assemblyman, also urged companies to leverage technology and automation to manage human resources more efficiently.
He added that Sabah has been considering these amendments for quite some time.
https://nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/05/1047323/hajiji-ensuring-workers-r...
Last week, state Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had said that those amendments, encompassing 12 key changes to 62 clauses, would cover 75 per cent of the ordinance.
The ordinance, in effect since 1950, witnessed its first amendment in 2005 after four decades, reflecting the necessity for updates to align with contemporary needs.
The establishment of the Sabah State Labour Advisory Council, comprising representatives from trade unions and major employers' associations, aimed at ensuring policy decisions accurately reflect Sabah's unique circumstances.
"I have received a range of opinions, some quite complex. Some workers have asked why we didn't adopt the labour laws of West Malaysia to provide more rights for workers, as if we are lagging behind.
"However, we see these amendments as progressive. As a social democratic party, DAP's stance is always in favour of workers. It's also about presenting Malaysia as a country that protects workers' rights.
"Otherwise, our workers may feel exploited and inadequately protected by existing laws," he said, adding that extended maternity and paternity leave would benefit couples with newborns.