Nik Zawawi Salleh (PN-Pasir Puteh) told the Dewan Rakyat paid annual leave entitlement should not depend on the length of employment.

“It would be better if all employees, whether with two or five years of service, were entitled to 16 days’ annual leave.”

He said giving all employees the same amount of annual leave will motivate them to work more efficiently, regardless of their number of years with the employer.

Under Section 60E of the Employment Act, employees who have been in employment for 12 months of continuous service with the same employer but less than two years, are entitled to eight days of annual leave.

Those with the same employer for two years or more but less than five years are entitled to 12 days of annual leave, and those in employment with the same employer for five years or more are entitled to 16 days.

The section also provides that workers with less than one year of service with the same employer would have their annual leave prorated, based on the number of months completed.

The paid annual leave to which an employee is entitled is in addition to rest days and paid holidays.

Deputy human resources minister Abdul Rahman Mohamad, in response to the proposal, said the ministry would consider amending the laws pertaining to employment as and when there is a need to do so.