Cuepacs lauds flexible working hours
KUALA LUMPUR: The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) welcomes the government’s move to introduce a pilot programme for flexible working hours for the civil service, called the “Waktu Bekerja Flexi” (WBF), beginning next month.
Cuepacs president Datuk Azih Muda said this was a good move as it would allow workers to set their working hours accordingly.
“We have always believed that civil servants should be given the flexibility of setting their working hours, as long as they fulfil their nine hours at work.
“With the new system, workers do not have to worry about being punished for coming late to work due to traffic congestion, faulty elevators, lack of parking or other reasons,” Azih told the New Straits Times.
He said that this was an improvement to the previous system where those who came late would get their punch cards stamped in red.
“For example, if previously their working hours are from 7.30am to 4.30pm and they come in at 7.35am, their cards would be marked red for coming in late and they would be punished.”
He said under the initiative, latecomers would be required to fulfil their hours accordingly as the focus was on honouring responsibility and not punishing them. Azih said the concept of flexible working hours was not new in Malaysia and it was previously known as “Waktu Bekerja Berperingkat” (WBB).
The Public Service Department, via a circular published on its Facebook page, said the programme would only involve those working for federal government agencies in selected states.
Under the pilot programme, civil servants will be allowed to clock in between 7.30am and 8.30am, and clock out between 4.30pm and 5.30pm.