International Journal of Islamic Thought Vol. 4: (Dec.) 2013 The Concept of Rights and Protection to Employees: A Comparative Overview 1 RAJA RAZIFF RAJA SHAHARUDDIN, ABD HAMID ABD MURAD, LUKMAN ABDUL MUTALIB & HASNIZAM HASHIM ABSTRACT Issues relating to the rights and protection accorded to employees throughout their employment with the employers is a matter that has been given much attention and treated with utmost priority in any organization, be it in the public or the private sector. It is an undeniable fact that the success story of any organization in the generation of profits in its enterprise or the smooth running in achieving the organization's desired objectives is much attributed to having a reliable, skilled and efficient workforce. Today, employees have been regarded as one of the most valuable assets of any organization. In pursuant thereto, apart from having various employment packages, laws regulating employment were enacted as protective measures in guiding both employers and employees. At the international level, rights and protections to employees have been embedded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Comparatively, under the Shariah, though a similar concept has been forwarded, the notion of employment has been elevated to the status of Ǯibadah. Islam places importance of adhering to the Shari`ah principles in dealing with protection accorded to employees. As employment is regarded as Ǯibadahǯ the employees are required and enjoined to observe full dedication, sincerity and commitment to their tasks. It is the responsibility of the employers, on the other hand, to ensure that the welfare of their employees is well protected. This paper attempts to outline the concept of employment under the Shariǯah and civil perspectives and to provide a comparative understanding on the rights and protection accorded to employees. Keywords: Employee Rights, Human Right, Protection to Employees, Shariǯah While it is the duty of the employees to work according to their terms of reference, it is also an undeniable fact that the employers have a corresponding responsibility to provide adequate protection to their employees. Protection to employee and their rights are clearly embedded under Articles 23 and 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR: 23-24). Article 23 provides that everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment. Employees under the same Article has been accorded without any discrimination, the right of equal pay for equal work and in terms of 1 Raja Raziff Raja Shaharuddin, Lecturer at Faculty of Syariah and Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Bandar Baru Nilai, 71800 NILAI, Negeri Sembilan, Email: rraziff@usim.edu.my; Abd Hamid Abd Murad, Senior Lecturer at Faculty of Syariah and Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Bandar Baru Nilai, 71800 NILAI, Negeri Sembilan, Email: hamid@usim.edu.my; Lukman Abdul Mutalib, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Syariah and Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Bandar Baru Nilai, 71800 NILAI, Negeri Sembilan, Email: lukman@usim.edu.my; Hasnizam Hashim, Lecturer at Faculty of Syariah and Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Bandar Baru Nilai, 71800 NILAI, Negeri Sembilan, Email: hasnizam03@gmail.com.