Nursing staff in Malaysia protest extended weekly work hours from 42 to 45 hours.
KUALA LUMPUR — The Malayan Nurses Union (MNU) has expressed strong opposition to the Malaysian government's decision to extend the weekly working hours of public sector nurses from 42 to 45 hours, set to take effect on August 1.
In a letter to the Health Ministry secretary-general, the Public Services Department (JPA) had previously delayed the implementation, which was initially scheduled for June 1. The JPA stated that this would be the final postponement, implying an imminent enforcement of the new working hours.
The MNU's president, Saaidah Athman, revealed that nurses have been displeased with the additional workload associated with the extended hours. They feel they have made numerous sacrifices while serving the public, and the new working arrangement seems to add undue pressure.
She suggested that the ministry should maintain the current 42-hour work week, citing that nursing professionals in countries such as Singapore and the Philippines work 40 hours per week, in accordance with the International Labour Organisation's recommendations.
Ms. Saaidah expressed concern that the increased hours could lead to nurse exhaustion, as regular working hours are already physically demanding. She underscored the importance of improving the current working structure in the healthcare system, which, she noted, places a heavy burden on nurses in Malaysia.
Illustration photo. Nurses have previously opposed the new working hours, citing a lack of work-life balance and increased workload. Photo The Star/ANN
In her conversation with The Star on May 29, Ms. Saaidah expressed disappointment if the new working hours were implemented, stating that nurses have been on the frontlines of medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic, often leaving their families to meet the job's demands.
The MNU's opposition to the increased working hours stems from concerns about work-life balance, increased workload, potential compromises in patient care, and the detrimental impact on nurses' emotional and mental health. The union argues that lengthening working hours could lead to fatigue, burnout, and decreased job satisfaction, potentially threatening the quality of healthcare services and contributing to mental health issues among nurses.
- In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses in Malaysia have been working tirelessly on the frontlines of medical care, often leaving their families to meet the job's demands.
- The Malayan Nurses Union (MNU) has voiced strong opposition to the Malaysian government's decision to extend the weekly working hours of public sector nurses from 42 to 45 hours, set to take effect on August 1.
- The union argues that lengthening working hours could lead to fatigue, burnout, and decreased job satisfaction, potentially threatening the quality of healthcare services and contributing to mental health issues among nurses.
- Ms. Saaidah, the president of the MNU, suggests that the ministry should maintain the current 42-hour work week, citing that nursing professionals in countries such as Singapore and the Philippines work 40 hours per week, in accordance with the International Labour Organisation's recommendations.
- The MNU's concerns about work-life balance, increased workload, potential compromises in patient care, and the detrimental impact on nurses' emotional and mental health highlight the importance of improving the current working structure in the healthcare system, which places a heavy burden on nurses in Malaysia.
