By MOHD IZHAM BIN HASHIM
KOTA KINABALU: The recent amendment to the State Labour Ordinance ushers in a new era for Sabah’s workforce, aligning workers’ rights and protections with those in Peninsular Malaysia.
Minister of Science and Innovation, Datuk Dr. Ariffin Arif, hailed the amendment, which came into effect on May 1, 2025, as a significant step toward addressing discrimination, forced and child labour, and unfair treatment. He added that it would bolster Sabah’s international standing on labour and human rights issues.
“All workers, regardless of salary or job type, are now covered by the Sabah Labour Ordinance, ensuring equal protection as those in the Peninsula,” Dr. Ariffin stated during his speech at the Sabah Labour Convention: State Labour Ordinance (Amendment) 2025.
In his remarks, he reiterated that the amendment aligns Sabah’s labour laws with national standards, improving worker welfare, fostering economic competitiveness, and attracting foreign investment.
“The changes ensure that all 2.1 million workers in Sabah, including 400,000 previously unprotected, now have the same legal protections as those in the Peninsula,” Dr. Ariffin said. His speech was delivered by State Assistant Minister of Science and Innovation, Harun Durabi.
Key changes include an increase in maternity leave from 60 to 98 days, the introduction of seven days of paternity leave, and a reduction in the standard workweek from 48 to 45 hours.
“These changes promote family welfare, work-life balance, and productivity,” Dr. Ariffin noted.
The amendment also introduces Flexible Working Arrangements to allow tailored working hours, benefiting both workers and employers.
Dr. Ariffin commended KESUMA’s efforts to improve human capital, including the launch of the KESUMA One-Stop Labour Centre, the expansion of TVET programs, and continued reforms to align Sabah’s labour laws with national standards. He expressed confidence these efforts will create better job opportunities, reducing the need for Sabah residents to migrate to Peninsular Malaysia.
He also highlighted the introduction of eNORES, a digital system developed by the Sabah Labour Department to streamline non-resident worker management using Blockchain as a Service (BaaS) technology.
Finally, Dr. Ariffin expressed full support for the Labour Education Tour Series 2/2025, which builds on the success of the first series, focusing on promoting workers’ rights across Sabah. The second instalment includes four Labour Conventions, three CSR programmes at locations such as Madrasah Nurul Hidayah Yasin, Kundasang (Aug 12), SMK Salaping, Kota Marudu (Aug 14), and SMK Kudat, Kudat (Aug 15), the launch of Independence Month, and a Flag-Off Ceremony with a convoy of 20 four-wheel-drive vehicles distributing campaign materials to attendees.
Among those who attended the convention includes Director of the State Labour Department, Wan Zulkifli Wan Setapa.
