PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) has voiced strong opposition to the government's decision to extend nurses' working hours from 42 to 45 per week starting Dec 1, 2024, citing a lack of consultation with key stakeholders such as the Malaysian Nurses Union (MNU).
MTUC president Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani said the Health Ministry's approach disregarded the collaborative efforts needed to draft fair and realistic policies.
"This decision appears to have been made without adequate consultation with key stakeholders such as the MNU, which directly represents the voices of nurses.
"Such an approach undermines the collaborative framework needed to draft policies that are fair and reflective of on-ground realities," he said in a statement on Tuesday (Nov 26).
Mohd Effendy warned that increasing working hours without addressing existing challenges could exacerbate work stress, fatigue and dissatisfaction among nurses.
"The mental well-being of nurses is critical in providing quality care to patients.
"Overburdened and mentally stressed nurses may inadvertently compromise patient safety and care standards, increasing the risk of errors and adverse patient outcomes."
He also highlighted the risk of nurses leaving for better opportunities elsewhere, which could worsen the current shortage of healthcare professionals.
Mohd Effendy urged the government to engage immediately with MNU and other stakeholders to reassess the decision, emphasising the importance of balancing operational needs with the welfare of healthcare workers.
"MTUC also recommends that the government conduct a comprehensive review of nurses’ working conditions, including workload, remuneration and support systems, to ensure a sustainable workforce with good mental health and motivation," he said.
Highlighting the importance of involving unions and professional bodies in policymaking to ensure inclusive and effective healthcare strategies, Mohd Effendy said the MTUC stands in solidarity with MNU and the nursing community.
"Their welfare should be prioritised in all decisions.
"Nurses are the backbone of the nation’s healthcare system, and their well-being must not be compromised to ensure the quality of care provided to the people," he said.
The Public Service Department (PSD) has recently released a circular on streamlining the work hours of civil servants who do not work on fixed office hours with those who work on office hours.
This would make the working hours, including rest days, total up to 45 hours a week.
If this is implemented, ward nurses will have three additional shift hours a week.
Hartal Doktor Kontrak opposed the new ruling, warning the government that the additional working hours and stagnant wages would only drive the nursing brain drain to other countries.
Several groups and leaders also concurred and objected to the move, calling for stop-gap measures to address the critical nursing staff shortage in public and private hospitals.
