Kuala lumpur: The government’s decision to maintain a 42-hour workweek for shift-based healthcare workers is expected to boost their morale and motivation to continue delivering the best service to the public. Malayan Nurses Union (MNU) president, Saaidah Athman, welcomed the move, calling it a reflection of the government’s concern for the welfare of healthcare civil servants.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the MNU expressed gratitude towards key government figures for their support. “On behalf of all MNU members, I extend our heartfelt thanks to the Prime Minister, Chief Secretary to the Government, Director-General of Public Service, and Health Minister for this decision,” Athman stated in a recent communication.

The Public Service Department announced that the government had agreed to exempt five critical service schemes under the Health Ministry from the implementation of a 45-hour shift workweek, maintaining their hours at 42 per week instead. This decision affects 82,637 frontline personnel, including nurses, community nurses, emergency department medical officers, assistant medical officers, and healthcare assistants.

Saaidah Athman noted that the union had raised concerns over the proposed increase in hours in November of last year through multiple consultation sessions with the Health Ministry, including a meeting with Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad. “We conveyed all the views and hopes of our members to ensure the best possible outcome,” she elaborated.

Looking ahead, Athman urged the government to review the salary and allowance structure for healthcare workers and consider creating more critical posts to strengthen the national healthcare system.