Minister assured us maternity benefits will remain, says WAO

 

The changes also include extending maternity leave benefits from 60 to 90 days. (Rawpixel)

PETALING JAYA: The human resources minister has given an assurance that employees will be entitled to maternity leave and allowances, irrespective of the amount of wage earned, according to the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO).

In a statement, WAO said questions had been raised as to whether maternity benefits would only be extended to female employees earning less than RM2,000 following the tabling of a bill to amend the Employment Act 1955 in Parliament last year.

It was reported last year that the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2021 to amend the Act included the removal of Section 44A which provides maternity benefits to all female employees irrespective of the amount of wage earned.

“The ministry has confirmed that a minister’s order (pursuant to subsection 2(2) of the Employment Act) will be made to amend the First Schedule of the Employment Act to enable all provisions in the Act to generally apply to employees (unless specifically excluded).

“This was confirmed in an email from the ministry to WAO, as well as in a meeting with the human resources minister,” it said in a statement.

The changes also include extending maternity leave benefits from 60 to 90 days.

WAO said following complaints of ambiguity, it had sought clarification from the ministry which confirmed that entitlements to maternity leave and allowances would still apply to employees regardless of how much they earn. - FMT