Roundtable on the Implementation of Section 59 of the Employment Act 1955: Rest Days for Domestic Workers
Associate Professor Dr Priya Sharma, Head of the Centre for Commercial Law & Justice (CCLJ), participated in an important roundtable discussion on the implementation of Section 59 of the Employment Act 1955 in relation to rest days for domestic workers.
Convened by the Malaysian Bar, the roundtable brought together diverse perspectives from the Ministry of Human Resources, organisations representing domestic workers and the domestic work sector, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC), civil society and human rights organisations, and United Nations agencies.
The discussion examined the importance of moving beyond the statutory recognition of a right to a rest day towards ensuring its clear, practical, and effective implementation. Particular attention was given to what constitutes a meaningful rest day within the specific context of domestic work, including the need for domestic workers to have adequate time to rest, recover, and exercise autonomy over their own time.
The roundtable provided an important platform for stakeholders to share experiences, perspectives, and practical considerations surrounding the implementation of existing legal protections. It also highlighted the value of multi-stakeholder engagement in identifying implementation challenges and considering how legal and policy frameworks can better translate statutory protections into meaningful safeguards in practice.
CCLJ appreciates the Malaysian Bar’s efforts in convening the roundtable and creating a constructive space for dialogue, reflection, and engagement on the protection and rights of domestic workers.
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