JOHOR BARU: The move to shorten working hours, as proposed by the Johor state government, will not compromise the quality or productivity of the public sector, but instead will transform the public service delivery system into a more efficient one.
Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) president Datuk Dr Adnan Mat said Johor's initiative to explore this proposal aligned with the government's broader efforts to enhance productivity and improve the public service delivery system, particularly in empowering public services.
He said the reduction in working hours should not be viewed negatively, as it had been implemented before. He cited the Jan 1, 2023 amendment to the Employment Act 1955 (Amendment 2022), which reduced the work week from 48 to 45 hours.
"Cuepacs welcomes and supports the Johor government's consideration to implement a four-and-a-half-day work week for the public sector in the state.
"The reduction in working hours will not affect productivity in any sector, including the public sector, as measures have been introduced and adjusted to ensure productivity and quality continue to improve.
"With a structured system and process in place, Cuepacs believes shorter working hours will lead to increased productivity, as employees feel more motivated and valued.
"With the government's digitalisation agenda and the public service reform efforts under the Malaysia Madani aspiration, we are confident that service delivery to the people will not only be unaffected but will become more efficient," he said in a statement today.
Yesterday, it was reported that Johor was studying the proposal to reduce working hours for the public sector in the state to four and a half days a week.
Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said this followed the reinstatement of weekends to Saturday and Sunday starting Jan 1, 2025.
Adnan also expressed confidence that the government would thoroughly study the proposal before implementing it.
He added that the government had previously initiated strategies to enhance public sector quality by focusing on human capital development, accelerating digitalisation and emphasising good governance.
"Cuepacs is confident that civil servants will continue to provide excellent service to the public under any circumstances.
"The reduction in working hours allows employees to enjoy a healthier lifestyle, work without stress, and, in turn, translate this into higher productivity.
"This initiative indirectly achieves a balance between work and personal life without affecting the productivity expected by employers," he said.
Adnan added that all parties should remain open to improving workers' quality of life, enabling them to achieve work-life balance.
He also said that employers must be prepared to ensure that implementing shorter working hours did not lead to unintended consequences.
"Many developed countries have already shortened their working hours, and this has not impacted workforce productivity in those countries.
"Iceland serves as a benchmark for the success of reduced working hours, with the average work week reduced from 40 hours to 35 hours," he said.