JOHOR BARU: An MP here has urged the Health Ministry to postpone the implementation of the 45-hour work week for nurses, which was scheduled to take effect on Dec 1.
Pulai MP Suhaizan Kayat said this was to relieve nurses while the Health Ministry reviewed the proposal.
“I raised the matter during the Ministry’s committee-level debate on Tuesday (Nov 26), and the Health Minister responded in Parliament, stating that the new regulation will be reviewed.
“Therefore, I propose that the Ministry issue a directive to postpone the implementation of the 45-hour work week, which was scheduled to take effect on Dec 1.
“The current priority should be to provide a conducive and comfortable working environment for all hospital staff and reduce the rate of burnout, which is affecting 60% of them,” he said in a statement on Friday (Nov 29).
He said many nurses have complained to him about being overly stressed, and some have had accidents while heading home after their shift.
“The additional three working hours also come with no rest guarantee as the hospital environment, with its staff shortage problem, does not allow for a designated rest period.
“It is also impossible for them to rest when faced with critically ill or dying patients,” he added.
The move to implement a 45-hour work week received much backlash from the medical fraternity, which claimed nurses were already being overworked under the present scheme and that the extra hours would be detrimental to their health and well-being.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday (Nov 26), Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad told Ministry staff, especially nurses affected by the proposed 45-hour work schedule, to be patient while the issue is being fine-tuned.
He said discussions with stakeholders, including the nursing section and nurses' associations, will be carried out as planned.
