Sarawak govt addresses delay in Labour Bill amid thorough review process

Dato Gerawat Gala (file photo)

By Dayak Daily Team

KUCHING, July 18: The Sarawak government acknowledges the concerns and queries about the delay in tabling the Sarawak Labour (Amendment) Bill 2024 in the current Parliament sitting, asserts Deputy Minister of Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring Datuk Gerawat Gala.

In a statement today, Gerawat explained that the draft of the Sarawak Labour Ordinance (Amendment) Bill 2024, submitted to the Ministry of Human Resources at the end of April 2024, is undergoing a thorough and meticulous review.

This review is being conducted by the Ministry of Human Resources, the Attorney-General Chambers, and the Sarawak State Attorney-General to ensure its integrity, fairness, and relevance to the needs of all stakeholders.

He added that this review is almost complete, and the Bill should be ready for tabling in the next Parliament sitting, coinciding with the second reading of the Sabah Labour Ordinance Amendment Bill.

“The Sabah Labour Ordinance Amendment Bill, tabled in Parliament yesterday, July 17, is only for its first reading and yet to go through its second and third readings before it can be approved,” he revealed.

Gerawat also highlighted that currently, a few pending policy and legal issues arising from engagement with the Federal Ministry of Human Resources and the Attorney General Chambers require careful consideration and resolution by the Sarawak Government.

“These issues are being addressed and resolved urgently with the utmost diligence. We assure the delay is not indicative of neglect or inefficiency, but rather a testament to the Sarawak government’s dedication to ensuring that the Bill we table is thoroughly vetted and refined.

“Our goal is to present legislation that is high-quality, effective, and provides a solid legal framework for the continued development and prosperity of Sarawak,” he concluded. — DayakDaily