Amendments to Employment Act for 7-day paternity leave approved

Amendments to the Employment Act 1955 (Act 265) proposing, among others, an extension of paternity leave from three days to seven were approved in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday through a majority voice vote.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Awang Hashim, when tabling the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2021 for second reading, said the increase in paternity leave was to allow more space for men workers to manage their family affairs after welcoming their newborns.

A total of 19 MPs from the government and opposition blocs took part in debating the bill with most of them touching on issues of paternity leave, maternity leave, minimum wage and forced labour.

Awang, when winding up the debate on the bill, said eligibility would be limited to five births, with the leave to take effect on the date of the birth.

The man must also have been employed for at least 12 months with the same employer.

He said the amendment to the bill also involved an increase in maternity leave from 60 days to 98 days, in line with the International Labour Organization Convention.