Women's ministry welcomes call to reduce work hours for civil servants

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry welcomes the Malaysian Trades Union Congress' (MTUC) call on the government to consider reducing daily work hours for civil servants to six hours from the current eight hours.

Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said this was because the move was seen able to provide work-life balance to the civil servants.

"I welcome the call from the MTUC and I would also like to thank the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa who will look into and scrutinise the proposal.

"Over the past two years, we (the ministry) have been implementing flexible working hour, with three options, for our staff," she told reporters after opening the 1Malaysia Women Association (Perwani) Community Programme at Kolej Universiti Islam Melaka here Sunday.

Also present were Deputy Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Women Development Department director-general Datuk Yatimah Sarjiman and Malacca Women and Family Development and Welfare Committee chairman Datuk Latipah Omar.

In another development, the minister also called on Perwani members nationwide to play a more proactive role in spreading information about Zika.

"We hope Perwani will help improve public awareness on Zika and the importance of fighting Aedes mosquitoes among members of the public.

"So far, Perwani has 169,106 members from 12,881 groups and the mission is achievable if they all play their roles," Rohani said.

She said although there were only two Zika cases reported in the country so far, suitable measures should be taken in a more effective manner to prevent new cases.

At the same time, she also advised members of the public to seek immediate medical attention should they have any Zika symptoms, especially fever and rash.

At a separate event, Rohani said the ministry was committed to producing more volunteers among the young generation in the country through its various programmes.

"This is in accordance with the government's effort to inculcate the culture of volunteerism among the young generation, such as through the 1Malaysia For Youth programme.

"I believe through our various programmes, youths and students alike will get the opportunities to lend a helping hand to those in need, especially the senior citizens, persons with disabilities and victims of disasters," she added.