Sabah MTUC, Cuepacs, UNI-MLC Support KESUMA’s Labour Reform Agenda

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- The Sabah branch of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC), the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (CUEPACS), and Union Network International–Malaysia Labour Centre (UNI-MLC) have expressed their support for the Ministry of Human Resources’ (KESUMA) labour reform agenda, which has also positively impacted workers in Sabah.

In a joint statement, Sabah MTUC chairman Mohd Airy Arin, Sabah CUEPACS chairman Ajulahin Japin, and Sabah UNI-MLC representative Jackelina Lajium said the reforms implemented by KESUMA reflected the federal government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of workers in Sabah.

They believed that a close relationship and ongoing cooperation between the state and federal governments were crucial to ensuring the welfare and development of workers in the state.

A notable highlight is the amendment of the Sabah Labour Ordinance in 2024, which ended a two-decade wait for workers and marked a significant milestone in the state’s labour history.

“The move ensures that workers in Sabah finally receive protection on par with labour standards practised in the peninsula,” said the statement.

In addition, the unions welcomed the enactment of the Gig Workers Act, which for the first time, acknowledges gig workers’ contributions and establishes a social protection framework for them.

According to the statement, legal recognition is vital to ensure that no worker is left behind in the country’s social safety net, particularly in the digital economy, where thousands of Sabahans rely on gig platforms for their livelihood.

“We express our strong support for KESUMA’s latest initiative to ensure that workers are comprehensively protected around the clock by the social security organisation, PERKESO, and not only during working hours.

“This is a significant game-changer in expanding social security coverage beyond working hours. With this protection, workers will feel more confident, as risks outside of working hours are now also covered,” the unions said.

On Sept 9, the Dewan Negara passed the Gig Workers Bill 2025, paving the way for legal protections for more than 1.2 million gig workers in the country.

--BERNAMA