MANDATING three days’ paternity leave for fathers working in the private sector has been given tacit approval by Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who says she has yet to engage employers regarding the proposed legislation.

“Of course there are factors that need to be considered, the employers will have concerns about this,” she said today after attending the Malaysia Aidilfitri Open House at Muzium Diraja Malaysia.

Furthermore, Wan Azizah – who is also Women, Family, and Community Development Minister – said that discussions at Cabinet level about this proposal had not been tabled in detail.

“For paternity leave on the whole, we want to encourage people to have babies, so paternity leave should be considered,” she said.

Reports earlier in the week said that the Human Resources Ministry planned to introduce the leave in response to requests from NGOs and private sector unions.

Deputy minister Mahfuz Omar said an amendment to the Employment Act 1955 was being prepared and would be submitted to the Cabinet.

“We have held discussions with the National Labour Advisory Council and representatives of trade unions and employers on the matter,” he said.

Mahfuz said the amendment to the act also involved increasing maternity leave from the current 60 days to 90 days, as is already the case in public service. – June 22, 2019.