Government Postpones 45-Hour Work Week for Nurses
PETALING JAYA: The implementation of a 45-hour work week for nurses, originally set to begin this Saturday, has been postponed by three months over outstanding concerns, according to senator RA Lingeswaran.
Minister Assures Views of Nurses Have Been Taken into Account
He said health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad revealed the decision during a meeting with a group of MPs and senators today to discuss pressing healthcare issues.
"The minister said the views of the nurses and others have been taken into account," Lingeswaran said. "The (three-month delay) will help resolve some issues regarding the additional three hours per week under the new system."
Efforts to Ensure Nurses are Not Burdened by Unfair Policies
Lingeswaran, a former director of Sungai Bakap Hospital in Penang, added that the group of elected representatives would continue their efforts to ensure that nurses are not burdened by unfair policies.
Malayan Nurses Union’s Concerns
Last week, FMT reported that the Malayan Nurses Union (MNU) had made a last-ditch effort to stop the addition of extra hours to the 42-hour work week for nurses. MNU president Saaidah Athman, who led a delegation to hand over a memorandum to the health minister and health director-general Dr Radzi Abu Hassan, said the repercussions of the move on the healthcare sector would be serious.
Background to the Directive
The directive, issued by the public services department last November, requires ward nurses to work an additional three hours per week, taking their total weekly hours to 45. The new schedule was slated to begin on December 1, but was postponed to March 1 this year following protests.
Nursing Shortage and Workload Concerns
Saaidah said there were currently 90,000 nurses at public hospitals and health clinics – about 9,000 short of the number needed. She said adding three hours per week to the workload of already burdened nurses would see a huge exodus from government hospitals, which are facing a shortage as it is.
Nurses Flee to Private Sector or Abroad
Saaidah also said that many senior nurses had moved to the private sector or countries such as Singapore and the Middle East where salaries are higher.
Conclusion
The decision to postpone the implementation of the 45-hour work week for nurses is a welcome relief for the nursing community, which has been struggling with the added workload. The three-month delay will give the government more time to address the concerns of the Malayan Nurses Union and other stakeholders, ensuring that the new schedule is fair and feasible for all parties involved.
FAQs
- What is the new schedule for the 45-hour work week for nurses?
The new schedule is expected to begin in March 2025, after a three-month delay. - What are the concerns of the Malayan Nurses Union regarding the 45-hour work week?
The union is concerned that the added workload will lead to a huge exodus from government hospitals, which are already facing a shortage of nurses. - What is the current nursing shortage in Malaysia?
There are currently 90,000 nurses at public hospitals and health clinics, about 9,000 short of the number needed.