FIRST and foremost, the employers’ fraternity in Malaysia will be least happy with the latest move to reduce the number of weekly working hours to 45 hours from 48 hours previously with effect from Sept 1 (this follows amendments to the Employment Act 1955).
Yesterday (Aug 9), Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim said the amendments were meant to protect the welfare of the workers in accordance with the provision of more flexible working hours by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
He said the amendments would also include flexible work arrangements, allowing employees to apply to their 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.
Interestingly, the only difference of the lesser three hours or 180 minutes works out to 36 minutes shorter daily working duration assuming that there are five working days a week (Mondays to Fridays).
Pros and cons
How then will the 36 minutes less daily working hours benefit the Malaysian workforce? Firstly, this probably boils down to the spirit of implementing the three-hour shorter weekly working hours itself.
This is a surely a good start to gradually reduce the number of weekly working hours so that future reduction does not look abrupt or deemed unacceptable by Malaysian employers.
After all, many business owners of small medium enterprises in Peninsular Malaysia claim that they are still struggling to cope with the mandatory RM1.500/month minimum wage ruling that came into force on May 1. Their reasoning tends to skew to them having yet to fully recover from devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic to their businesses.
Another long-term impact from the 36 minutes less per day (assuming five-day week) working hours is something that many Malaysian or Asian employers are not accustom to hearing or are not keen to know.
Some studies have found that “workers are often more productive when they work less”.
In 2018, for example, the average British worker worked 42 hours per week. However, the average full-time German worker who worked 1.8 hours less each week was 14.6% more productive. Interestingly in Denmark where the average workweek was 37.7 hours, workers in that country were 23.5% more productive!
Currently, no study explains the exact link between why a shorter workweek increases productivity although it can be assumed (at least on paper) that people who work reduced hours will be less stressed, more well-rested/sleep or experience fewer negative emotions or even achieve better work-life balance.
However, there is a caveat to maintaining high productivity level with reduced working hours. This is where the Malaysian workforce will most likely falter.
Lack of job discipline coupled with poor commitment to the task entrusted to them would only lead to the proliferation of the lepak (loitering) culture or one teh tarik session more habit which could eventually lead to a double jeopardy – low productivity and “bubble in the urine” phenomenon a.k.a. diabetes (or other non-communicable diseases). – Aug 10, 2022
