KUCHING: When it comes to controversial policies, Malaysia is also one of those countries that has its own fair share.
The most recent being the calls by certain quarters to reduce the number of working days to four a week, much to the horror of most Malaysian employers.
At a recent discussion titled: “Reset: Balancing Three Symbolic Elements – Work, Workers and Workplace” in conjunction with Human Resource Development Corporation Open Day, there were mixed reactions from a few of the panelists.
“It works both ways,” opined X-FAB Sarawak Human Resources director Maureen Lavage.
“We, as the employee, need to take responsibility and be mature enough not to misuse the four-day week. As for employers, perhaps they can relax a bit and give it a try, to see how it works,” she told New Sarawak Tribune.
She recalled her own experience, disclosing that it took many months to convince her management.
And at the same time, she said they also sent a clear signal to all the employees to not misuse the flexi hours as the policy could also be taken back.
Suffice to say that while there is a sense of understanding among the top management and all staff concerned, can the policy be fully adopted in Malaysia?
That too, is a waiting game.
However, just looking at the global map where countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand are already enforcing flexi working days, no major catastrophe such as a drastic economic downturn or economic inflation has taken place there.
Neither were there any reported increase in crime rates or crime index in the said countries if their social economies’ pros and cons are taken into account.
Logically, that can never happen in those countries because their employees are enjoying extra days of rest and relaxation besides working their minds off during their workdays.
Therefore, while these Americans, Europeans, Australians and New Zealanders are seemingly relaxing and having more recreational time than most Asians, including Malaysians, the flexi four-day working days must not be looked upon as strictly taboo here.
In all fairness, Malaysian employers need to be more pragmatic, more logical and be more professional and to do away with that “strictly taboo” mindset in order for the policy to be a success in the country as well.
Some employers fear that Malaysia is still not capable and cannot afford to lose another day of productivity given that the country is currently undergoing an economic inflation.
Perhaps then, fewer working days should not be blamed for the lack of production and lack of production should not be blamed for the economic downturn.
Perhaps the cause of the economic turmoil is not due to the country’s labour force but more so because of the mismanagement of government grants, subsidies, funds and finances.
So employers should be fair, and just as well, before any huge major decision is made or tabled in Parliament. And that includes the flexible four-day work week.
While the issue is still being debated, hotel employees and the self-employed also have their own say on the matter.
Kuching Riverside Majestic Hotel’s duty manager Roobhen Dram, 31, and his colleague, Mohd Brandan Abdullah, 24, feels that the four-day work week was unsuitable for the service industry.
“Because if it is imposed, our shift working hours will be stretched from the current eight to 12 hours,” they said.
Roobhen added that they were working six days a week with their eight-hour working day and some hotels with five working days scheduled nine-and-a-half working hours a day.
Self-employed Lises Away, 56, feels that it does not matter much to him as he works seven days a week running his courier business.
“Because to me, my priority is my customers. But, let’s say if it’s a government servant or the private sector, you also have to see to the needs of your customers and it should be your priority,” added Lises, a former bank employee who started his own business in 2018.
For the banking sector, he said since everything was conducted online, it might be good for the banks.
