Malaysia Standardizes 2nd Eastern State’s Labor Law

Malaysia continued the process of standardizing its eastern states’ labor laws with the law covering its peninsular area with an act amending the Labour Ordinance of Sarawak that was published April 14.

The Labour Ordinance of Sarawak (Amendment) Act 2025 is similar to an act amending the Labour Ordinance of Sabah published March 20, but the two ordinances have different structures. Both increase paid maternity leave to 98 days, introduce seven days of paid paternity leave, decrease weekly working hours to 45 hours from 48, match the peninsular Employment Act 1955’s sick leave provisions, require direct deposit of wages except ...