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GEORGE TOWN: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have urged the government to reconsider its decision to increase the number of days for paternity leave.
Plant manager Illamaran Elangkathir, whose company produces LED products, said there are 25 married males out of 200 people who are in senior positions at his company.
“They are section heads who are in key positions and if they take leave for a week, it will have an impact on our operations as we are a small firm and do not have many in senior positions.
“As such, if one of them takes a week off during a production ramp-up, we will have disruptions from manufacturing to production and quality control, which could ultimately delay shipping,” said Illamaran, whose company is in Seberang Prai.
He urged the government to not only look at the multinational companies (MNCs) as examples as they have a larger workforce, where people could be re-deployed temporarily if someone goes on leave.
“However, if it is the law, we will follow as a staff member is entitled to whatever leave provided for under his terms of employment,” he said.
Another SME which supplies measurement tools to MNCs said increasing the paternity leave from three to seven days would have a major impact on operations.
“The amendment says for all children, and I have 120 people working at my plant in Simpang Empat, with at least 40% of them married.
“So, if two employees go on paternity leave at any one time, I need to find a replacement,” said the company’s general manager, Justin Loo.
He said that when running a small operation, the company needs to ensure that people at critical manufacturing processes do not go on long leave without prior notice.
“Even emergency leave is only for two days,” he said.
Loo argued that the amendment was not “industry-friendly” and would result in SMEs bearing the full brunt at a time when they are just recovering from the pandemic.
Despite their complaints, a check shows that Malaysia still ranks lower in the number of paternity leave days compared with Singapore and Australia, where two weeks’ paternity leave is standard.
Australian expatriate Michael Hanratty, who is a general manager of a local hotel here, said the two weeks’ leave is for the recovery period of the mother who needs the husband to be around.
“It further helps the father to bond with his child while the mother is recuperating,” he said.
In India, government employees get 15 days’ paternity leave although there is no formal policy in place for employees in the private sector.
However, some companies are taking the lead in giving more time to new fathers, sometimes as many as 30 weeks.
Last month, Dewan Rakyat approved amendments to the Employment Act, guaranteeing working fathers in Malaysia at least seven days of paternity leave per child for up to five children, regardless of the number of wives. The fathers must have also worked at the company for at least 12 months to be eligible for paternity leave.
Prior to the amendment, only civil servants had a seven-day paternity leave allotment. Dads in the private sector had to use their annual leave, or take unpaid leave, to be with their wives and newborns.
Dewan Rakyat also approved an amendment to increase maternity leave to 98 days from 60 days for private sector employees, and 90 days for civil servants, in keeping with International Labour Organisation recommendations.
Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/05/17/smes-unhappy-with-longer-paternity-leave