Employers urged to offer work flexibility as Malaysia prepares to reopen

Malaysia Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has asked employers to allow flexible work arrangements for working parents and staggered hours for their employees as the country prepares to reopen.

On May 4, almost all economic sectors and businesses will be allowed to resume operation subject to strict conditions in what is termed a conditional movement control order (CMCO).

And as businesses in Malaysia prepares to reopen, Muhyiddin urged employers to implement flexible work arrangements to avoid congestion on the roads and public transport to prevent another spike in COVID-19 cases.

“Not everyone needs to come to work at the same time. So we can avoid people rushing to the office at the same time,” he said in his Labour Day address on May 1.

“In fact, even when all sectors of the economy are open, employers can encourage workers to work from home. This is the new normal that we must adopt. Talk to employees. Any task which can be done at home, do it at home. It’s better.

“Perhaps a schedule of alternate working days can be arranged. Today, work at the office; tomorrow, work from home,” he added.

Muhyiddin also pointed out that when parents take turns working from home, this can indirectly also prevent crowding at childcare centres.

“Indirectly, this can reduce the number of children in daycare centres and it would be much easier for babysitters to manage the children according to the health standard operating procedures,” he said.