Organisation welcomes Employment Act amendments

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KUCHING: The Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) has welcomed Human Resources Deputy Minister Awang Hashim’s statement in the Dewan Rakyat that amendments to the Employment Act would include paternity leave, extended maternity leave, protections against sexual harassment, and flexible working hours.

In a statement yesterday, WAO pointed out such changes in social norms would help women stay in the workforce.

The organisation said introducing paternity leave sends the message that caregiving is a shared responsibility.

WAO had recently urged the ruling government to introduce at least seven days of paid paternity leave for fathers working in the private sector — the same as what public sector workers currently enjoy.

“Three days — as had been previously discussed — is simply not enough.

“Seven days of paid paternity leave would enable fathers to play a more active role when their child is born, and to bond with them in those critical first days while the mother is recovering,” said the WAO.

It cited a 2012 World Bank report which estimates that if Malaysia were to eliminate the gender gap in workforce participation, income per capita could increase by 16 per cent.

“The Khazanah Research Institute estimates that a whopping 2,563,800 women in Malaysia were not working due to ‘housework or family responsibilities’ — compared to just 69,800 men,” it said.

WAO had previously disseminated a petition for seven days of paid paternity leave, which garnered over 40,000 signatures.

The petition was handed over to the former Minister of Human Resources in November 2019, and he had committed to proposing seven days to the cabinet.