“I deny this. There have been no discussions,” said MTUC president Effendy Abdul Ghani.

“I am doubly surprised. Firstly, I am surprised with Friday’s announcement that the enforcement of the amendments has been postponed to Jan 1. Secondly, I am surprised that the minister today said there were discussions with MTUC.

“MTUC hopes that the minister will be honest with the truth,” he told FMT.

He added that the situation has to some extent complicated the relationship between MTUC and the ministry, which previously held “transparent and continuous” engagement sessions regarding the discussion of any amendments.

The amended Employment Act, among other things, reduces weekly working hours from 48 to 45. Maternity leave has been increased from 60 days to 98 days while paternity leave has increased from three days to seven.

The government earlier said it would be enforced from Sept 1. However, on Friday, Saravanan said the enforcement had been postponed to Jan 1 to help employers address the labour shortage, adding that the deferment followed their request.

MTUC secretary-general Kamarul Baharin Mansor slammed the “flip-flop” by the government, stating that there was no prior consultation regarding the postponement.

In a Bernama report today, Saravanan said he had discussed the postponement of the amendments’ enforcement with MTUC, adding that the decision was made after studying the views of all quarters.