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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Malaysia nurses oppose 45-hour work week plan
KUALA LUMPUR — The Malayan Nurses Union (MNU) is up in arms over the government's decision to increase the weekly working hours of nurses in the public sector from 42 to 45, effective Aug 1. Its president Saaidah Athman said nurses have made many sacrifices in serving the well-being of the public, and they were unhappy with the additional workload being imposed on them. In a letter dated May 28 to the Health Ministry secretary-general, the Public Services Department (JPA) paused the implementation of the new working arrangement, which was originally scheduled to begin on June 1. The JPA also stated that this would be the final postponement and that the new working hours would be implemented soon. A previous postponement had already been granted, moving the start date from March 1 to May 31 at the Health Ministry's request. While the MNU welcomed the latest postponement, Ms Saaidah h opes the ministr y will maintain the current 42-hour work week instead of increasing it to 45 hours. She noted that nurses in countries such as Singapore and the Philippines work 40 hours a week , in line with recommendations by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). This, she said, is because regular work hours are already tiring enough for nurses, and additional hours would lead to exhaustion . 'Where is the justice and welfare for nurses, who are the pulse, heart, and backbone of the ministry? 'The current working structure in the healthcare system must be improved. 'In other countries, including Singapore, nurses only work in wards and handle recovery work. But in Malaysia, we perform many tasks — from escorting patients to x-rays and the operating theatre, to indenting, collecting data, participating in audits, and being involved in hospital activities,' she told The Star on May 29 . She added that nurses would be disappointed if the 45-hour work week was implemented. Ms Saaidah said nurses were at the frontline of medical care during the Covid-19 pandemic and served the nation, often at the cost of leaving their families due to the demands of the job . 'Imagine if the work hours were extended but there was no review on the burden of the job and the improvements,' she said. Nurses have previously opposed the new working hours, citing a lack of work-life balance and increased workload. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
3 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Nurses upset over work hour increase
KUALA LUMPR: The Malayan Nurses Union (MNU) is up in arms over the government's decision to increase the weekly working hours of nurses in the public sector from 42 hours to 45 from Aug 1. Its president Saaidah Athman said nurses have made many sacrifices in serving the well-being of the public and they were unhappy over the additional workload piled on them. CLICK TO ENLARGE In a letter dated May 28 to the Health Ministry secretary-general, the Public Services Department (JPA) paused the implementation of the new working arrangement scheduled to begin on June 1. JPA also said the postponement was the last one and the new working arrangement will be implemented soon. Another postponement was also previously granted from March 1 to May 31 upon the request from the Health Ministry. While MNU welcomed the latest postponement, Saaidah is hoping for the ministry to maintain the current 42-hour work week instead of the 45-hour. She said nurses in countries like Singapore and the Philippines work 40 hours a week as recommended by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). This was because regular work hours were tiring enough for nurses and that additional hours would cause exhaustion. 'Where is the justice and welfare for nurses who are the pulse, heart and backbone of the ministry. 'The current working structure in the health system must be improved. 'In other countries including Singapore, the nurses are only working in wards handling recovery work but in Malaysia, we do many tasks from taking the patients to x-rays, to the operation theatre, indenting, collecting data, being involved in audit as well as hospital activities,' she told The Star yesterday. She added that nurses would be disappointed if the 45-hour week was implemented. Saaidah said nurses were at the frontline of medical care during the Covid-19 pandemic and served the nation to the extent of leaving their families due to responsibilities of the job. 'Imagine if the work hours were extended but there was no review on the burden of the job and the improvements,' Saaidah said. Nurses have previously opposed the new working hours, citing the lack of work-life balance and added workload.
The Sun
13-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Moratorium on 45-hour work week for nurses extended
PUTRAJAYA: The interim moratorium on the implementation of a 45-hour work week for nurses has been extended by another month, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said today. He said the extension was to enable the ministry to examine and understand various aspects of healthcare workers, especially welfare issues, before recommendations are presented to the Cabinet on July 1. 'The process is now in its final stage, and engagements have been held several times. But as I said before, I will not decide without a thorough understanding of the nursing programme and related matters. 'Going from here, it is for me to conclude, but what is important is to consider all factors so that whatever decision is made will be truly fair,' he told a press conference after attending the national-level Midwife Day and Nurses Day 2025 celebration, here. Dzulkefly has been reported to have said that the Public Service Department had approved an interim period of three months, from Dec 1, 2024, to Feb 28, 2025, to prepare for the implementation of a 45-hour work week at the Ministry of Health. On Nov 21 last year, Dzulkefly said that the change in shift work hours for nurses was appropriate, subject to the Public Service Remuneration System that was implemented on Dec 1, 2024. He said the 45-hour work week set through the system was essentially reduced by one hour compared to 46 hours a week as provided under the General Orders. Asked about the issue of nurses' allowances that had been raised by the Malayan Nurses Union (MNU), he said the matter was still under discussion at the ministry level. 'I have directed that this matter be examined, and it will take some time because it is still at the discussion stage,' he said. On March 9, the MNU sought a government review of all nurses' allowances, including the RM1,000 per month regional allowance for those serving outside their home state.
