MTUC Sarawak optimistic as long-awaited amendment to SLO nears approval

KUCHING (Sept 19): The Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) Sarawak has expressed optimism regarding the long-awaited amendment of the Sarawak Labour Ordinance (SLO), which has been pending for nearly 20 years.

According to reports earlier on today, the amendment to the SLO would mean that workers in Sarawak will have the same rights and protection as those in Peninsular Malaysia.

Following that, MTUC Sarawak chairman, Zaidi Nasar, in a statement said he believed that with the strong collaboration between the federal and Sarawak government, the proposed amendments would successfully be presented in Parliament before the end of this year.

He said MTUC Sarawak also publicly expressed its appreciation for the recent efforts of the Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong, who has officially enacted four new legislations under the Human Resource Ministry.

“These legislative changes aim to enhance the principles of union freedom among workers in Malaysia, aligning the country’s labour laws with International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards,” said Zaidi.

Looking ahead, he said that MTUC Sarawak remains confident that the Human Resource Ministry is on the right track to achieve its mission focused on welfare, skills, and achievements (3K), as envisioned by Sim.

This is because for MTUC Sarawak, the commitment to improving labour rights and standards in Sarawak reflects a progressive step towards better working conditions for all employees, he said.

“As labour movements continue to gain momentum, these legislative changes underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in enhancing workers’ rights in the region,” he said.