Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas - JERIT

Ministry satisfied with current provisions, has no immediate plan to amend Employment Act

Source: Malay Mail

PETALING JAYA: The Human Resources Ministry has no plans to increase the maternity leave period to 90 days.Its minister, Datuk Dr S Subramaniam, yesterday told The Malay Mail that there were no immediate plans to amend the Employment Act 1955 to increase the maternity leave from 60 to 90 days for workers from the private andpublic sectors.

“So far, the  existinglaw is working fine and we don’t  really have any problems with it. And there is no need for an immediate amendment.However, I am aware of the criticism that we need to streamline with other countries.”

He was commenting on the memorandum planned by the National Union of Bank Employees (Nube) urging the ministry to match the practicein other Asean countries to ensure that women fully recovered after their delivery, given the multi-tasking that they are presently subjected to.

Subramanian said it was Nube’s right to criticise and did not discount the possibility that the ministry could review the proposal. Noting that the Nube memorandum aims to collect a million signatures to support the amendment to the Act, Subramaniam believed any relevant opinions have to be taken into account so that necessary changes could be made.

“We would be happy to review the memorandumby the union. I understand that some working women have a slower recovery rate  compared with others. In some situations, some women need an additional 30 days to recover.

“Since the law states that they be given 60 days maternity leave, they need to take additional leave on their own. But the ministry will definitely review the memorandum and amendwhat needs to be amended.”

Nube secretary J. Solomon had reportedly said that Singapore provided 112 days of maternity leave while Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia  and the Philippines provided 90 days.

He said that women today juggle a full-time and demanding job and that they take full responsibility for the health, growth and development of children, which contributes towards nation-building.

He added the union would be seeking to discuss the matter with Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.