Flexible hours, shorter work week for women among proposed changes to Employment Act

KUALA LUMPUR: Women in the workforce can look forward to flexible schedules and a shorter work week following amendments to the Employment Act, says Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim (pic).

Although flexible schedules including work from home (WFH) have been implemented by both the public and private sectors since the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak last year, he said there were no laws governing the matter.

"At present, there are no policies or specific labour laws on fixed flexible working schedules for women.

"However, the government is concerned for women employees in arranging their work schedules to harmonise their lives.

"In this respect, the ministry has included several new provisions related to flexible work schedules and a shorter work week under amendments to the Employment Act," Awang said in reply to June Leow Hsiad Hui (PH-Hulu Selangor) in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Nov 29).

Awang said the proposed amendments are expected to be tabled and passed by the Dewan Rakyat next month.

Leow had asked if there were efforts by the government to encourage flexible work schedules for women employed in both the public and private sectors.

However, he told Leow there were no plans to make it mandatory for employers in the private sector to provide daycare facilities at the workplace for working mothers.

He said employers are merely encouraged to provide such facilities at present.