Reduced Working Hours Will Not Affect Operations

Since the implementation of the amendments to the Employment Act of 1955 has been delayed until January 1 of next year, legal experts think the lowered working hours from 48 to 45 hours per week would not have a significant impact on operations.

 

Reduced working hours is the norm

According to legal practitioner Chia Swee Yik, reduced working hours is already widespread practice.

"If you look at the current working hours, from 9 am to 6 pm spread across five days a week, it makes up to 45 hours. And most companies already no longer operate on Saturdays.

"Once the amendments to the Act come into force, it will merely reflect what is basically happening.

"In fact, under the 2012 amendments, there was already a move to have a better work-life balance, even though the working hours were still 48 hours a week.

"It was during that time that amendments were made to cater for a five-day work week," he explained.

Chia also stated that when the changes go into force, it will be more relevant for work-life balance if firms implement a flexible working policy simultaneously.

"We do not want to spend an extra two hours on the road during rush hour from Monday to Friday to go to work until our public transportation system is upgraded.

"Although the reduced working hours move is a step in the right direction, having flexibility coupled with the right policy will have a greater impact on work-life balance, as attested to by many workers who have gone through the pandemic," he said.

 

The four-day workweek and the Employment Act amendments

Chia believes the four-working-day schedule is too harsh for Malaysia, and many industry players disagree with it.

According to an online poll firm, Qualtrics, 62% of full-time employees in Malaysia favour the flexibility of short working days, such as a four-day week.

The Employment Act amendments were passed during the March Parliament session. Its highlights include employee flexibility regarding working hours, work location, time, and work days. It includes the ability to work from home in times of emergency, such as a pandemic.

Other significant changes include increasing the length of maternity leave from 60 to 98 days and instituting a seven-day paternity leave for married employees.

 

Reduced working hours will help women

Jernell Tan, information and communications officer for the All Women's Action Society (Awam), stated that the reduced working hours allow working women more freedom in organising their schedules.

"Overall, this amendment, along with other amendments such as protection for pregnant employees, full maternity leave and flexible working arrangements, can facilitate the retention of women who get married and have children within the workforce. It will also open up more employment opportunities for them.

"Furthermore, the reduced working hours will enable everyone to allocate for themselves more family and/or self-care quality time," she added.

 

Long working hours is still a concern

According to the International Labour Organization, frequent long hours of work are still a major concern in most of the world, particularly in some countries, most notably Asia and the Pacific.

"Regularly working long hours is positively associated with chronic effects of fatigue, leading to health problems such as cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and even higher mortality rates as well as poorer mental health, such as higher rates of anxiety, depression and sleep disorders.

"Long weekly hours are also associated with reduced levels of reported work-life balance and increased work-family conflict.

"Thus reducing long hours of work can help to improve workers' physical and mental health as well as their work-life balance," it wrote in response to a call for input on the Act's amendments.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan declared the postponement on Friday, following a meeting with industry players and stakeholders who had asked for the amendments to the Employment Act 1955 to be postponed while the economy recovers from the pandemic.

The minister stated that no further extensions would be granted after January 1, 2023, giving companies adequate time to address their concerns.

 

Source: The Star