SMSU lauds return to 42-hour work week for MOH frontliners
KUCHING (July 13): The Sarawak Medical Services Union (SMSU) has welcomed the federal government's decision to exempt 82,637 health personnel under five critical service schemes in the Ministry of Health (MOH) from the 45-hour shift requirement, reverting instead to a 42-hour work week.
The Public Service Department (JPA) announced this decision in a statement on July 11, 2025.
According to SMSU, the move demonstrates the government's genuine concern for the workload and occupational stress faced by health frontliners, particularly those working in critical and high-pressure environments where lives are at stake.
'SMSU believes that the government's compassionate approach aligns with the ideals of Malaysia Madani, and will serve to further boost the morale, motivation and wellbeing of health personnel in their service to the rakyat,' the union said in a recent statement.
SMSU also thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, and Director-General of Public Service Department Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz for their firm commitment and concern in addressing the matter.
Furthermore, the union extended special thanks to Cuepacs president Datuk Dr Adnan Mat and the Council of Presidents and Secretaries-General of the Health Ministry Workers' Union Coalition (Mapsu) for their consistent, principled advocacy in championing the rights and welfare of healthcare workers.
'Thank you to all parties who have served as the voice and the shield in this struggle for healthcare workers,' they added.
The 45-hour work week policy was initially set to be implemented in stages, beginning with a three-month preparation period from Dec 1 last year.
The Ministry of Health subsequently requested and was granted extensions, first from March 1 to May 31, and again to June 1. The implementation date was later deferred once more to Aug 1.
Throughout this period, several healthcare unions voiced strong opposition to the change, citing the already demanding conditions faced by medical frontliners.
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