THE law has changed for soon-to-be mothers. Maternity leave has been increased to 98 days, up from 60 days previously.
Once gazetted, the amendments to the Employment Act 1955, as passed by the Dewan Rakyat on March 21, will have full effect of the law. Regrettably, this well-intended renaissance of maternity rules is not without flaws.
For one thing, Section 44A, which made maternity leave and other maternity protections available to all female employees regardless of their salary, has been repealed.
As a result, the Act’s maternity leave provisions will no longer apply to women earning more than RM2,000 per month, as stated in Schedule 1