KOTA KINABALU: Job seekers in Sabah will soon no longer need to shuttle between multiple offices, thanks to the setting up of a One-Stop Labour Service Centre to streamline employment services under one roof.
The centre, which will be set up by the Human Resources Ministry in the coming months, will bring together various labour-related departments and agencies, including the Labour Department, Industrial Relations Department, Trade Unions Affairs Department, and Social Security Organisation (Socso), allowing workers to access all necessary services in a single location.
“We will set up a One-Stop Labour Service Centre in Sabah. This means all employment matters, can be addressed in one place without workers having to go back and forth between different offices,” Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said in a statement following a recent working visit to the Sabah Medical Services Union (SMSU).
Apart from Sabah, three other pilot centres are also planned for Penang, the Klang Valley and Johor Baru, he said.
Sim said the initiative’s expansion to Sabah marks a significant step towards nationwide implementation.
He added that the visit to SMSU was part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to engage with workers directly and strengthen worker protections and welfare across the country.
He also expressed his appreciation to SMSU for more than six decades of service in championing the welfare of healthcare workers in Sabah, describing its members as “frontline heroes” for their sacrifices during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Among the ministry’s recent key achievements, Sim noted the long-awaited approval of amendments to the Sabah and Sarawak Labour Ordinances, delayed for over two decades, which were passed by Parliament last year.
“These amendments align workers’ rights and protections across Malaysia, ensuring no one is left behind, especially workers in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
He credited the success of these legislative reforms to collaborative efforts involving the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC), labour unions, state governments and ministry officers, including Sabah Labour director Wan Zulkifli Wan Setapa, who continuously championed the cause.
The amended Labour Ordinance (Sabah) 2025 and Labour Ordinance (Sarawak) 2025 came into effect on May 1, 2025, excluding Part IVA which covers minimum standards for workers’ housing and amenities.
On another note, Sim welcomed the recent establishment of the Sabah Labour Advisory Council on May 13, 2025, and congratulated SMSU president Ajulahin Japin and executive secretary Laurence Vun on their appointments as council members.
Ajulahin has also been appointed as a permanent member of the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) as of May 1 this year.
The NLAC serves as a tripartite platform involving employers, workers, and the government to discuss policies, legislation and labour practices.
“This platform allows the Human Resources Minister to receive input, advice and consensus on matters concerning labour and human capital development in the country,” he said.
