Johor Considers Implementing a 4.5-Day Work Week
Are You Hiring?
Find candidates in 72 Hours with 5+ million talents in Maukerja Malaysia & Ricebowl using Instant Job Ads.
Hire Now
Several well-placed sources claim that the Johor state government is contemplating implementing a two-and-a-half-day weekend, with Friday as a half-day and Saturday and Sunday as rest days.
According to recent news in Malay Mail, the state's proposed two-and-a-half-day weekend will allow Muslims to prepare for Friday prayers while civil servants won't be required to report back to work afterwards.
However, it noted that there might be an extra hour of work from Monday through Thursday to make up for Friday's half-day.
The current official business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Johor's rest days
Following a royal decree by Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar in conjunction with his 55th birthday celebration on November 23, 2013, the Johor government has begun observing Friday and Saturday as weekends from January 1, 2014.
The state government made the adjustment to make it simpler for Muslims in the state to go to Friday prayers.
A source with knowledge of the proposed Johor rest-day amendment confirmed to Malay Mail that the state administration is considering implementing a two-and-a-half-day weekend with a four-and-a-half-day work week.
"The agreement appears to be in place, and it was notified to Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim before his departure on June 18," he stated. The same source indicates it would take three months to synchronise and calibrate various state government systems.
"As it stands, we are fine-tuning the idea for it to be authorised and endorsed as quickly as possible," the source remarked.
According to the source, since many parties were in favour of the change, it is hoped that implementation will be completed by this year.
Four-day work week: viable?
Pasir Raja assemblywoman Nor Rashidah Ismail previously suggested that the state government switch to a three-day weekend in exchange for a four-day work week.
She claims that nations such as the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, Iceland, Scotland, Spain, and Japan all practise this arrangement.
Nor Rashidah made the remark while discussing Sultan Ibrahim's royal address during today's state assembly meeting at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Kota Iskandar, Iskandar Puteri.
On June 14, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, who supports the plan, also stated that the state government was considering the potential of revising its rest days after taking the public's issue on the disparity in rest days between the government and private organisations.
He said that the state government would reveal a resolution in a timely manner.
Source: The Malaysian Reserve