Sabah hopes all MPs will support state labour law amendment Bill

Hajiji (third right) with Saifuddin (second right), Sim (second left) and other leaders with the book on guidelines for curbing forced and child labour.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is hoping the Sabah Labour Ordinance (Amendment) Bill which is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament this October will get unanimous support from MPs.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the Bill was tabled for the first reading by Human Resources Minister Steven Sim on July 17.

“I hope the second reading of this Bill, scheduled for the fourth meeting of Parliament in October, will receive unanimous support from all MPs,” he said at the opening of the Combating Human Trafficking and Forced Labour Convention here on Thursday (Sept 5).

"I am confident that this amendment will benefit both employers and employees in Sabah by providing detailed and orderly guidelines to enhance industrial relations in a harmonious and conducive manner," he added.

Hajiji said the state government fully supported the Bill as one of the 16 amendments addressed human and labour rights issues.

This included eliminating discrimination and providing for punishment of employers or any party engaging in human trafficking, forced labour and child labour practices.

According to the Chief Minister, this aligned with the government's role in ratifying International Labour Organisation (ILO) Protocol 29 as proof of its commitment to eradicating forced labour in the country.

In a press conference later, Sim thanked Hajiji and the Sabah government for supporting the Bill.

He expressed confidence that Sabah leaders would back the Bill in the Dewan Rakyat this October, as it will streamline workers’ rights in the state with those in the peninsula under the Employment Act 1955.

Also present at the event was Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.