Put new working hours for healthcare workers on hold – union

KOTA KINABALU (Nov 26): The Sabah Medical Services Union (SMSU) expresses deep concern over the government’s recent announcement to implement a 45-hour workweek for all government servants, effective December 1, 2024.

While SMSU understands the government’s rationale to align with the General Orders, this directive significantly impacts healthcare workers who have long operated on a three-shift system – 7am to 2pm, 2pm to 9pm, 9pm to 7am.

This system amounting to 42 working hours per week, according to Ajulahin Japin, president of SMSU and chairman of Cuepacs Sabah, has proven effective in maintaining the well-being of healthcare workers while ensuring uninterrupted, high-quality care for patients. The new shift change to: 7am to 3pm, 3pm to 10pm,10pm to 7am raises numerous concerns regarding health, safety and work-life balance.

Ajulahin pointed out that healthcare workers, especially nurses, play a pivotal role in the nation’s healthcare system, providing not only medical care but also emotional and mental support to patients and their families. Nursing is a demanding profession that requires immense physical and emotional resilience. Prolonging their work hours could lead to burnout, jeopardizing their ability to deliver compassionate and effective care.

“We firmly believe that the implementation of the 45-hour workweek will adversely affect work-life balance: Extended hours would limit personal and family time, causing additional stress. It will also impact health and safety: Fatigue from longer shifts increases the risk of workplace accidents and compromises the well-being of healthcare workers. Beside this it will also pose hazardous for workers to go to work late at night and returning from work especially in the rural areas. The existing 42-hour workweek has proven its effectiveness in maintaining both productivity and the quality of care therefore there is no disruption on current efficiency,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Ajulahin added that SMSU stands in solidarity with other unions and stakeholders who have raised these valid concerns.

“We strongly urge the government to put the implementation of the new working hours on hold and to convene a dialogue with all stakeholders, including unions representing healthcare workers, to thoroughly assess the potential ramifications.

“It must be emphasized that healthcare workers have demonstrated unwavering dedication under the current system, which has not compromised productivity or quality. We appeal to the government to prioritize the welfare of these frontline workers, whose sacrifices are the backbone of Malaysia’s healthcare system,” Ajulahin said.

SMSU remains committed to advocating for policies that protect the interests of healthcare workers while ensuring the continued delivery of exemplary healthcare services to the rakyat.