Malaysia Moves to Standardize Eastern States’ Labor Laws

Malaysia began a process of standardizing the labor laws of its eastern states of Sabah and Sarawak with the law covering its peninsular area with an act amending the Labour Ordinance of Sabah.

The Labour Ordinance of Sabah (Amendment) Act 2025 makes substantial changes to that state’s labor law to conform to the Employment Act 1955, which covers Peninsular Malaysia. It received assent March 7 and was published March 20.

Among its amendments is increasing the maternity leave entitlement to 98 days instead of 60 and providing seven days of paid paternity leave per birth of a child, which was ...