Rokiah Mahmud

The Labour Department at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) announced that new private sector employees are entitled to apply for sick leave after serving at least one month at their companies. This is in view of the COVID-19 situation in the country.

Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong said this during a press conference at the Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday, updating on the measures taken to curb the spread of the virus.

The decision was taken after a review by the Labour Department on sick leave, under the Employment Order 2009.

“With the consent of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the service period for an employee to be entitled to sick leave will be a minimum of one month of service.

“The amendment is a temporary measure, effective March 9, 2020, to run until a date to be announced later – depending on the COVID-19 situation,” the minister said.

“The objective of this amendment is primarily to safeguard the welfare and well-being of private sector employees who have yet to reach the six-month working period; should they have to take unpaid leave while undergoing the quarantine order as instructed by the government for at least 14 days, and subject to further treatment if necessary, whichever is critical in preventing the transmission of COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

The amendment also takes into consideration various stakeholders, including the Manpower Planning and Employment Council (MPEC) as well as several private companies affected by the outbreak.

Meanwhile, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah discussed the measures in place to balance the impact of COVID-19 in the private sector and individuals.

“The Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE) calls on employers to continue to look after the welfare of their employees, by providing alternatives to address the issues faced by employees. This includes providing advance leave for those yet to be entitled for sick leaves (so they will be still protected under this temporary amendment measures); implementing flexible working hours; nominating employees to undergo for reskilling and upskilling courses and so on,” the minister said.