FLEXIBILITY FOR CIVIL SERVANTS

Extended hours at govt depts will also improve service delivery, says PSD

THE new operating hours at government departments and agencies nationwide, from 7.30am to 6pm, will provide flexibility to public servants. Public Service Department directorgeneral Tan Sri Zainal Rahim Seman said the longer operating hours, which took effect on Jan 1, would enhance public service delivery.

“This is in line with the public service transformation and our continuous efforts to improve service delivery, as well as to give flexible working hours to civil servants,” he said in a circular.

With the extension, civil servants nationwide will work in four shifts: 7.30am to 4.30pm, 8am to 5pm, 8.30am to 5.30pm and 9am to 6pm.

Government departments and agencies in Perlis, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Pahang, Sabah, Sarawak, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya will be open on weekdays from 7.30am to 6pm.

Their break time remains unchanged from 1pm to 2pm (Monday to Thursday) for all states and 12.15pm to 2.45pm (Friday) in Peninsular Malaysia.

For Sabah and Labuan, their break time on Friday is from 11.30am to 2pm, while in Sarawak, their break time on Friday is from 11.45am to 2.15pm.

In Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Johor, operating hours are from 7.30am to 6pm from Sunday to Wednesday and 7.30am to 4.30pm on Thursday, with break time from 1pm to 2pm.

In the 2018 Budget, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had announced the introduction of new working hours from 9am to 6pm to provide flexibility to public servants.

News of the new working hours and shifts was lauded by the public and civil servants interviewed by the New Straits Times.

In Kuala Terengganu, restaurant operator Gunaa Sivanathan said the extended hours would give people more time to deal with government departments.

Insurance consultant Lau Yew Hee said the new operating hours would ensure better service delivery for the people.

“However, the extended hours must be publicised so that the public can make full use of the extra time.”

In Seremban , Natalia Hawa Hussein, who is attached with the International Trade and Industry Ministry, said the new working hours would not only give more flexibility to civil servants but could also motivate them to work more efficiently.

“We can now choose to work on shifts that are suitable to our needs. It gives more flexibility for us to focus on our job and families,” she said.

In Kota Baru, Noraziah Ahmad said the four shifts would ease the burden of those who have been facing problems heading to work early.

“For instance, those who cannot commit to earlier working hours due to family matters can now opt for the later shifts. The move also shows that the government is concerned about the people’s welfare,” said the government servant from Kampung Bunut Payong. Additional reporting by Nur Aqidah Azizi and Sharifah Mahsinah Abdullah