45 Hour Work Week For Healthcare Workers Scrapped

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 The policy had been scheduled to be implemented on Aug 1, but was met with opposition by the Malayan Nurses Union, among others.
Nurses, community nurses, medical officers in the emergency department, assistant medical officers and medical attendants will continue to have a 42-hour work week.PETALING JAYA: The government has decided to scrap the 45-hour work week for more than 82,000 healthcare workers, which had been scheduled to be implemented on Aug 1, after a two-month extension
The public services department (JPA) said it took note of the concerns raised by healthcare workers over the implementation of the 45-hour work week under the public service remuneration system (SSPA).
“After thoroughly reviewing the operational needs and the nature of critical tasks carried out by healthcare workers, the government recognises that such responsibilities demand extraordinary physical, mental and emotional preparedness.
“In line with this, the government has agreed to exempt five critical services under the health ministry from shift work requirements, and instead set their working hours at 42 hours per week,” it said in a statement.
The exemption applies to nurses, community nurses, medical officers in the emergency department, assistant medical officers and medical attendants.
JPA initially approved a period of three months from Dec 1 last year for hospitals to prepare for the implementation of the 45-hour work week.
The health ministry subsequently requested and received approval for an extension from March 1 to May 31. The implementation was later extended again to June 1 before being delayed once more to Aug 1.
The Malayan Nurses Union had voiced strong protest against the additional hours, saying ward nurses were already under pressure working 42 hours a week. - FMT

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