Rohani welcomes MTUC's six-hour work day proposal

The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) has welcomed the six-hour work day proposal for civil servants in the country.

The proposal would be beneficial especially for married women employees.

Its minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said the ministry had introduced flexible working hours to its married staff two years ago.

She said certain types of jobs do not require one to be present physically in office, especially with the current information and communication technology.

"For example, those who work as translators do not need to be in office because such jobs can be completed from anywhere, not necessarily from office," she said.

She said what is important is that work is completed without compromising on quality and fulfill employer's requirement.

"Those who come in at 10am and go back at 6pm can take care of their household chores or children before coming in to work. This allows them to manage their time better," she said.

She said the current flexible working hours carried out within the ministry had proven to be a good move as it has also improved the work culture in the ministry and created a more harmonious working environment.

However, she stressed that the ministry alone cannot make the system work.

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

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

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) had earlier 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 to study six-hour work day - Ali Hamsa

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 have 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.