Historic moment for Sabah workers: Union
Published on: Thu, Jun 05, 2025 Text Size: Steven during his working visit to SHRREU's office, recently. Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Hotel, Resort & Restaurant Employees Union (SHRREU) hailed the official working visit by Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong as a historic moment for workers in the State. SHRREU Secretary-General Mohd Shahbudin Abdullah said this marks the first time a Federal Human Resources Minister visited SHRREU's office, a gesture the union described as meaningful and long overdue. 'For decades, no minister has come down to meet with workers in Sabah. Steven's visit shows real commitment to hearing our voices,' he said, recently. During the visit, the union thanked the Minister for delivering on a key promise, the enforcement of the Sabah Labour Ordinance (Amendment) 2025, which was gazetted on May 1 after years of delay. He also emphasised that the amendment brings much-needed updates to labour protections in Sabah, aligning them more closely with standards in Peninsular Malaysia. 'We waited since 2022 for this amendment. Thanks to the Minister's strong leadership, it's now a reality,' Shahbudin said. SHRREU also welcomed the introduction of the Madani's Card Worker, a discount card for union members that offers savings of up to 30 per cent to help with the cost of living. The union urged the ministry to include more Sabah-based vendors to ensure workers in the State can benefit fully. 'We appreciate the initiative, but hope more local partners can be added so Sabah workers aren't left behind,' he said. The union also raised concerns over salary disparities, noting that long-serving workers often receive the same pay as new hires — an issue that has created long-standing dissatisfaction. They urged the ministry to review the policy and offer fairer wage structures. Additionally, SHRREU expressed gratitude for being appointed to the Sabah Labour Advisory Council (SLAC), describing it as a meaningful recognition of the union's role in representing workers' interests. 'We are confident that under Steven's leadership, worker welfare will continue to improve, and the workplace environment in Sabah will become more fair and inclusive,' Shahbudin said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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