Deputy Human Resources Minister Mahfuz Omar said the proposed amendments to the Employment Act 1955 have also not taken into account such discrimination.

“But we will deal with any complaints against these kinds of discrimination,” he said.

He said the Human Resources Ministry is in the midst of reviewing employment laws specially on discrimination in the workplace, including the definition of discrimination based on gender, religion, race, disability, marital status, pregnancy and language.

He was responding to a question from Nurul Izzah Anwar (PH-Permatang Pauh) on the ministry’s efforts to ensure job seekers are protected from discrimination and whether such protection will be included in the proposed Employment Act amendments.

Nurul Izzah also asked if the government has a plan to protect discrimination against female job seekers who are pregnant, following the government’s move to extend mandatory maternity leave to 90 days.

Mahfuz said those who feel they have been discriminated could lodge complaints with the ministry, who will try to find a settlement.

“If there are any complaints to the ministry, even though it is not covered under the law, we will start negotiations and provide advice to employers so that no such discrimination will happen,” Mahfuz said.

In September, the government said it would go ahead with the proposed anti-discrimination provisions to protect job seekers.