Six-hour work day not suitable for enforcement agencies - Immigration union

The six-hour work day proposal is not suitable for sectors that handle national security, said Immigration Services Union Peninsular Malaysia (KPISM) president Ajeet Singh Gurbax Singh.

Instead, he said those working in these fields should be given a pay raise as they have challenging jobs.

Ajeet Singh said with the current shift system practised among immigration enforcement officers, the six-hour work day proposal would not make much difference.

"We believe what's more important is the salary. Higher salary will motivate a person to increase productivity," he said.

He said the RM1,360 starting salary was insufficient for an enforcement officer.

Ajeet Singh also called on the government to draft a new salary scheme for all enforcement officers in the country.

His secretary, Mohd Faizi Jamaluddin, echoed his views and said even if the working hours were reduced, enforcement activities would still be carried out around the clock.

"The borders and immigration detention centres have to be monitored 24 hours. The same goes for Urban Transformation Centres (UTCs)," he said.

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

Its secretary-general, N. Gopal Kishnan had 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 READ: Govt to study six-hour work day - Ali Hamsa

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

He said currently, several government agencies especially civil servants in UTC, have begun seven-hour work shifts.