55 Groups Support At Least 7 Days Paternity Leave #7DaysForDads

We welcome the statement by Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, that he has included 7 days of paternity leave in the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2021.

Currently, working fathers in Malaysia are not legally entitled to any paternity leave. 

As a result, many fathers cannot be with their wives and newborns during and after childbirth to provide support and carry out their responsibilities.

The government has proposed amending the Employment Act to introduce 3 days of paid paternity leave. This was not enough.

Therefore, we commend the Minister’s decision to increase the paternity leave period to 7 days in the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2021, and call on members of parliament to support this provision when the Bill is tabled in the Dewan Rakyat this month.

This 7 day period will apply to private sector employees, and is consistent with what fathers in the public sector currently enjoy.

Various studies show that children with involved fathers have better social, emotional and cognitive development, and perform better in school.

Introducing paternity leave also sends the message that caregiving is a shared responsibility. Such changes in social norms would help women stay in the workforce. 

Many countries have paternity leave. According to a 2014 International Labour Organization report, 79 out of 167 countries have laws that provide paternity leave. The Philippines and Singapore have two weeks of paid paternity leave.

Adequate paternity leave will benefit children, families, and the nation. It’s time for Malaysia to move forward as well.

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Disokong oleh / Endorsed by:

1. Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
2. Agora Society Malaysia
3. All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
4. Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM)
5. Architects of Diversity (AOD)
6. Association of Toy Libraries Msia
7. Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)
8. Childline Foundation
9. Consumers Association of Penang
10. Demokrat Kebangsaan
11. EMPOWER Malaysia
12. Family Frontiers
13. Friends of Sungei Klang Taman Melawati River Three
14. Gerakan Belia Se-Punjabi Malaysia (GBSM)
15. IDEAS
16. Justice for Sisters
17. Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja PKNS
18. KRYSS Network
19. Lyceum Society
20. Malay Forest Officers Union (MFOU)
21. Malaysia Youths and Students Evolution Johor Branch
22. Malaysian Digital Economy Consumers Association
23. MUDA
24. National Council of Women’s Organisations Malaysia (NCWO)
25. National Union of Transport Equipment & Allied Industries Workers
26. NEW ERA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
27. New Student Movement Alliance of Malaysia
28. Perak Women for Women Society
29. Persatuan Pengasuh Berdaftar Malaysia (PPBM)
30. Persatuan Pengguna Klang
31. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
32. Pertubahan Wanita Malaysia untuk Kawalan Tembakau dan Kesihatan
33. Pertubuhan Generasi Aspirasi Pemimpin Wanita Malaysia (GAP.MY)
34. Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia
35. Pertubuhan Jal Ehwal dan Pelindung Pengguna Sabah (CAPS)
36. Pertubuhan Usahawan Wanita Millennium Malaysia
37. Purplelily Social Association Kuching
38. PWDC
39. Sabah Timber Employees Union (STIEU)
40. Sabah Timber Industry Employees Union
41. Sabah Women’s Action-Resource Group (SAWO)
42. Sahabat Alam Malaysia
43. Sarawak Women For Women Society(SWWS)
44. Sisters in Islam (SIS)
45. Society for Equality, Respect And Trust for All Sabah (SERATA)
46. Society for the Promotion of Human Rights ( PROHAM)
47. Sustainable Development Network Malaysia (SUSDEN Malaysia)
48. Tenaganita
49. Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy
50. The 111 Initiative
51. The KLSCAH Women Division
52. Third World Network
53. Undi18
54. Union of Forestry Employees Sarawak (UFES)
55. Women’s Centre for Change (WCC)

About Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)

Since 1982, Women’s Aid Organisation has provided free shelter, counselling, and crisis support to women and children who experience abuse. We help women and their children rebuild their lives, after surviving domestic violence, rape, trafficking, and other atrocities. Learning from women’s experiences, we advocate to improve public policies and shift public mindsets. Together, we change lives.

Call the WAO Hotline at 03 3000 8858 or SMS/Whatsapp TINA at 018 988 8058 if you or someone you know is experiencing abuse. For more information, visit wao.org.my.

For more information, please contact:

Yu Ren Chung, Deputy Executive Director, renchung@wao.org.my / 016 718 3247
Rusni Tajari, Senior Advocacy Officer, rusnitajari@wao.org.my  / 013 380 2287