Recent news

Latest items of recent news relevant to Malaysia as reported in our fortnightly newswire ‘Dernières nouvelles’. 

Malaysia: Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill

The Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill is now awaiting debate before the Dewan Negra (Upper House of Parliament) after the Bill was approved by the lower house …

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Malaysia: 289 labour relations complaints handled over the first 10 months of this year

The Department of Labour (JTK) handled 289 labour relations complaints in the coastal state of Malacca over the first ten months of this year …

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Malaysia: World Bank estimates 26% pay hike if women get fair access to work

A report by the World Bank has forecast that the overall level of wages and salaries in Malaysia would rise by 26% if women were given equal opportunities …

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Malaysia: Government to review labour laws

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Bin Mohamad has stated the government’s intention to review its labour laws in an effort to reduce “over-dependence” on foreign labour and address low female labour participation …

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Malaysia: Agreement on new hiring system for Bangladeshi workers expected in August

Both governments are expected to sign a bilateral agreement in August for the establishment of a new recruitment system for Bangladeshi workers sent to Malaysia …

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Malaysia: Personal data protection law is being reviewed

The Personal Data Protection Act of 2010 (PDPA) is currently under review by the Malaysian Ministry of Communications and Multimedia …

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Malaysia: Reforms could further restrict foreign lawyers

A reform of the Legal Profession Act 1976 is poised to further curb the rights of foreign lawyers, especially their ability to “fly in, fly out” through a new 60-day annual restriction on their right to give advice on matters that do not involve national law …

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Malaysia: Moratorium on Sedition Act 1948 lifted

The government has lifted the moratorium on its infamous Sedition Act 1948 that was used by the previous government to punish dissent …

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Malaysia: Overqualified M’sian fresh grads will work for less pay in low-skilled sector

A survey conducted by the Khazanah Research Institute has found that a high proportion of young people are working in jobs for which they are over-qualified …

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Malaysia: Mixed reaction to PTPTN loan repayment

The Human Resources Minister is at variance with the Education Ministry over whether salary deductions from payroll can be made without the borrower’s consent for loans under the National Higher Education Fund Act (PTPTN) …

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Malaysia: Minimum wage to be increased in 2019

We reported last year that the Malaysian government was planning to introduce a single, unified minimum wage covering the whole country …

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Nepal/Malaysia: Both governments have agreed on a draft of the labour agreement

There are currently 385,000 documented Nepali workers in Malaysia. However, since May 2018 immigration authorities in Malaysia have blocked the entrance of Nepali workers to the country.  As a consequence, talks have been held between officials of both countries and a draft agreement drawn up to resume access and prevent Nepali workers from being charged to obtain jobs in Malaysia. The final agreement is likely to include health and safety provisions, a requirement for annual pay reviews, medical insurance, compensation for injured workers and air fare reimbursement.

Malaysia: Factory workers average wages up 10% to RM3,562 in May

Over the year to May 2018, average pay for manufacturing sector rose by 10% to RM3,562 (US$878) …

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Malaysia: Anti-corruption commission (amendment) bill 2018

Although the Anti-Corruption Commission (Amendment) Bill 2018 was passed by parliament in April it still awaits Royal assent …

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Malaysia: Gender inequality, discrimination against minorities still rife

A new report submitted to the UN by several local NGOs has highlighted numerous equality and discrimination problems in the country …

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