The ministry said it has always maintained that it is committed to the due process of consultation on the amendments and will deliberate on the matter before making a decision.

Bernama reported yesterday that MTUC and MEF reached a consensus on certain areas of the proposed amendments that have been passed by the Dewan Rakyat and are awaiting approval by the Dewan Negara.

It quoted the two groupings as saying in a joint statement that they also have agreed to defer other areas of the proposed amendments for further discussion.

The statement said MTUC and MEF, who are part of the National Labour Advisory Council Committee (NLAC), had convened a meeting yesterday to discuss the proposed amendments.

MEF executive director Shamsuddin Bardan said the discussions included details of maternity and paternity leave, working hours for employees, and the reformation of both MTUC and MEF.

“We haven’t finalised the contents. Once finalised, we will send a memorandum to the human resources ministry,” Bernama quoted him as saying.

In a statement today, the ministry said it “would like to thank MTUC and MEF for supporting the amendments of the two acts”.

It said it held a consultative meeting lasting from 9.30am to 5.30pm yesterday, attended by an MTUC delegation led by its president Abdul Halim Mansor and an MEF team led by its president Azman Shah Haron.

The meeting was chaired by the ministry’s deputy secretary general Muhd Khair Razman Mohamed Annuar.