Shorter working hours to be enforced from Sept 1

KUALA LUMPUR: The amendments to the Employment Act that will see weekly working hours reduced from 48 to 45 hours will be enforced from Sept 1, the Dewan Negara has been told.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim said that the amendments were to safeguard the welfare of workers and provide flexibility in working hours, in line with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention.

“In addition, the amendments also introduce a new section on flexible work arrangements, to allow employees to apply to employers to carry out work according to the suitability of working hours, working days or workplaces, including working from home for emergency situations such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

“As of today, there is no proposal or engagement for us to set four working days a week, at the ministry level,” he said when answering Senator Md Nasir Hashim’s question about the government’s stance on four working days in a week, especially in the private sector. – Bernama