KUCHING: The special privileges of workers in Sarawak will continue to be defended based on valid laws to ensure their welfare remains protected in line with recent changes.

Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg stated that the state has approved amendments to merge the privileges of its workers under the Sarawak Labour Ordinance with the Federal Act.

“We are together consolidating Sarawak’s privileges under the Sarawak Labour Ordinance with the Federal Act so that the rights and privileges of workers in Sarawak continue to be upheld, while taking into account national laws and the International Labour Organization (ILO) standards of the United Nations (UN),” he said.

He said this while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Sarawak State Level Labour Day 2026 Celebration at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here on Sunday.

The Sarawak Premier added that the introduction of the Gig Workers Act directly protects workers involving the use of digital technology, consistent with Sarawak’s transformation towards a digital economy.

During the same event, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari also witnessed the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Sarawak Government and the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO), in addition to presenting Excellence Awards to the recipients.

Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak Cabinet Ministers, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister of Human Resources Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) and Chairman of the Sarawak State Level Labour Day 2026 Celebration Datuk Gerawat Gala, Deputy Ministers, Sarawak Federal Secretary Dato Ahmad Nadzri Mohd Hassan, and Heads of Departments. — UKASnews

Prepared By: Ahmad Daniel Faiz
Photos: Ibanez Jeffery
Translator: Ryan Lim