Groups: Remove domestic work from exemptions under Employment Act

Proposed amendments under the Employment Act 1955 are inadequate to protect "domestic servants" as changing the term to "domestic employees" does not remove their status as informal workers exempted from basic rights, including off days and set hours of work.

International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF) field officer Bariyah, who goes by a single name, said the current term of "domestic servant" or "domestic employee" in the proposed amendments - along with other categories of exempted informal workers - are listed under the First Schedule of the Employment Act.

"Basic issues are being denied - one rest day a week...