KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 29): The deferment of the implementation of the amended Employment Act 1955 to Jan 1, 2023 — from Sept 1 — is to give time for employers to address their problems regarding the shortage of workers and recruitment of foreign workers, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M Saravanan.
He said implementation of the amended law was deferred upon request by the employers themselves.
“Employers need time and their request [to defer implementation of the amended law] is rational,” the minister told reporters after opening the 23rd Conference and Exhibition on Occupational Safety and Health (COSH) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here on Monday (Aug 29).
He said this in response to comments by several quarters over the Government's move to defer implementation of the amended Employment Act which, among other things, involves reducing the working hours from 48 hours to 45 hours a week, increasing maternity leave from 60 days to 98 days, and paternity leave from three days to seven days.
Meanwhile, Saravanan said he had discussed with the Malaysian Trades Union Congress the postponement of the implementation of the Employment Act 1955, which was made after studying the views of all quarters.
He said a total of 47,000 foreign workers had entered the country so far, with nearly 19,000 of them being Nepali citizens.
He refuted claims that the cost of hiring foreign workers is too high, saying that it is with “zero cost".
However, he said, employers who hire...
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