Implementation of four-day workweek unlikely in Malaysia

Malaysia is not ready to implement a four-day workweek as this would result in higher costs for businesses, said companies in the country. 

Most employers, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are not ready to adopt a four-day workweek, noted Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers president Soh Thian Lai, reports The Star. 

“As it stands currently, an employee working five days per week is effectively working an average of about four days a week after taking into account the many public holidays, sick leave, maternity or paternity leave, and others,” Soh said. 

“As such, reduced hours per week or a four-day week is not required,” he added. 

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Any attempt to introduce a change in work pattern must take into account other factors such as the costs to the company, he said, noting that any work performed beyond the four-day workweek would lead to an increase in the cost of wages as this would be considered as overtime work. 

“Someone, in this case, the consumer, will have to bear the costs of new hours of work, which will be passed on to the products and services that the industries provide,” warned Soh.