With a seat in the United Nations Human Rights Council until 2024, it is time for Malaysia to raise the standard of workers’ rights in its Constitution to the level of neighbouring 'sending countries', said a labour activist.

Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC) secretary Ng Yap Hwa said protection of workers’ rights in the Constitution was lagging far behind neighbours Indonesia, Cambodia and the Philippines, and "we can learn from them because human rights were more than the minimum wage issue."