The Malaysian Insight

THE Dewan Rakyat today passed an amendment to increase maternity leave from 90 to 98 days under the Employment Act 1955.

It was approved with a voice vote. 

The extension is in line with recommendations made by the International Labour Organisation. Its Convention 183, passed in 2000, requires governments to guarantee 98 days (14 weeks) of paid maternity leave.

The amendment bill involved changes to 46 clauses, including 10 new clauses, 26 amended clauses, and six repealed clauses. 

Among the changes was a proposal to provide for three days of paternity leave for those employed in the private sector. 

During the debate, MPs on both sides of the divide pleaded with the government to extend paternity leave from three to seven days.

In his closing remarks, Deputy Human Resources Minister Awang Hashim promised to revise the law further to add seven days of paid paternity leave in the private sector.

“After taking into consideration the welfare aspect, the ministry agreed with the suggestion. The amendment will be done in the committee stage (or third reading of the amendment to the bill),” he said.

Currently, only fathers in the public sector are allowed a seven-day paid leave with their newborns while those in the private sector are not entitled to any. – March 21, 2022.