The Malaysian government has officially scrapped plans to implement a 45-hour work week for more than 82,000 healthcare personnel, a policy originally slated to take effect on August 1 following a two-month postponement.
In a statement issued today, the Public Services Department (JPA) acknowledged the concerns raised by frontline healthcare workers regarding the proposed policy, which was part of the broader Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) reform.
“After conducting a comprehensive assessment of operational demands and the critical nature of healthcare duties, the government recognises that these roles require exceptional levels of physical, mental, and emotional resilience,” the statement read.
Consequently, the government has decided to exempt five categories of essential healthcare services under the Ministry of Health (MOH) from the shift work requirements associated with the 45-hour standard. Instead, their working hours will remain capped at 42 hours per week.
The exemption applies to nurses, community nurses, medical officers in the emergency department, assistant medical officers and medical attendants.
JPA had initially granted a three-month transition period beginning December 1, 2023, to allow hospitals nationwide to prepare for the revised work schedule.
However, following repeated appeals from the Health Ministry, the transition period was extended—first from March 1 to May 31, and subsequently to June 1—before the final deferral to August 1. This latest announcement confirms the policy will not proceed.
The Malayan Nurses Union (MNU) had previously voiced strong objections to the plan, highlighting that ward nurses were already experiencing significant strain under the existing 42-hour work schedule. The union warned that any further increase would risk burnout and jeopardize patient care quality.
