The proposed working hours of four days a week are at the research and study stage only, said the Director-General of Public Service (JPA) Datuk Seri Mohd Shafiq Abdullah.
He said although some countries were implementing working hours of four days a week on a trial basis, JPA was of the view that the approach should be seen holistically, especially in terms of suitability and effectiveness of the public service structure in the country.
“JPA is very aware of the impact and impact of the implementation of any new policy on the public service delivery system, especially when the government is in the process of reviving the country’s economy for the well-being of ‘Keluarga Malaysia’,” he said in a statement today.
On June 30, Mohd Shafiq said JPA has set up a special team that would study the implementation of working hours four days a week because there were demands from some parties who wanted the government to look at the matter in more detail.
Yesterday, the President of the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public Service (Cuepacs) Datuk Adnan Mat said working hours of four days a week is not suitable to be implemented in Malaysia at this time because there are other matters involving welfare matters and current wage rates that still need to be resolved.
Mohd Shafiq said JPA took note of the views of Cuepacs and various parties on the proposed working hours of four days a week, apart from always being open to getting comprehensive input from stakeholders to empirically study the feasibility of the proposal.
JPA also constantly studies various aspects in terms of facilities, career advancement, and improvement of work processes that lead to the improvement of the people-centered public service delivery system,” he said.
