Govt to study six-hour work day - Ali Hamsa

The government will conduct a detailed study on the six-hour work day proposal with civil servants, Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Ali Hamsa said.

He said currently, several government agencies especially civil servants in Urban Transformatin Centres (UTC) have begun seven-hour work day.

"We will see, study first. Even now, we see in some UTC and certain agencies, a 14-hour shift is divided between two people, or seven hours per person," he said at a press conference today.

"So, it has already been practised. Now we have to study why do we need the six hours," he added.

He said there has also been proposals to allow certain scheme and grades to work from home.

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) had urged the government to consider reducing daily work hours for employees to increase productivity and counter burn out.

Its secretary-general, N. Gopal Kishnan said the 48-hour work week allocated within the law is deemed to be 'too long' as compared to neighbouring countries.

MTUC opined longer working hours would negatively impact employees in the long run and eventually reduce productivity.

READ: Govt should consider reducing daily working hours

Sweden has shifted towards a six-hour working day in its bid to increase productivity and the move has since received positive outcome.

The experiment was done on a nursing home where the nurses working there has seen a 20 percent increase in happiness since the change was made.

It was reported that the likelihood of workers taking sick leave has been halved during the length of the experiment.