KUCHING: Sarawak has recorded 81.5 per cent in the National Industrial Harmony Index (IHI) which shows the level of employer-employee relations in the state is at a 'Good Level'.

Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring), Datuk Gerawat Gala said, Sarawak's IHI score has shown an increase from 79.3 per cent in 2022 to 81.5 per cent for 2024.

According to him, Sarawak will continue its efforts to achieve the 83 per cent index recorded by the country.

"If I am not mistaken, the National IHI for the Malaysian level is at 83 per cent, so we still have work to do to increase it from 81.5 per cent to 83 per cent," he said.

He said this when speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the Sarawak Industrial Harmony Programme 2025 at a leading hotel here on Wednesday.

He added that this performance shows the reality of the industrial relations landscape and also the harmonious labour environment in Sarawak.

Datuk Gerawat expressed hope that more companies in Sarawak will participate in the IHI Self-Assessment (SA) through the Industrial Relations Information System (IRIS) platform provided free of charge by the Department of Industrial Relations Malaysia (JPPM).

He explained that companies that implement the IHI SA and meet the set conditions will obtain the ‘Sijil Penarafan Syarikat Harmoni’ (SPSH), as part of branding efforts as a harmonious company to investors, the job market and industrial competition in Malaysia and Sarawak in particular.

Meanwhile, in a press conference, Datuk Gerawat expressed his satisfaction over the increase in the Sarawak National IHI which he described as moving in the right direction.

"So I have a lot of hope and confidence that our employers, our companies in Sarawak will take positive steps to improve their performance," he said. -UKASnews