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Cuepacs: 42-hour workweek helps protect healthcare workers' well-being
Cuepacs: 42-hour workweek helps protect healthcare workers' well-being

New Straits Times

time4 days ago

  • Health
  • New Straits Times

Cuepacs: 42-hour workweek helps protect healthcare workers' well-being

KUALA LUMPUR: The government's decision to maintain a 42-hour workweek for shift-based healthcare workers will help ensure that the quality of public healthcare services remains at the highest level. Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services president Datuk Dr Adnan Mat said the move was also in line with the spirit of Malaysia Madani, which prioritises compassion, welfare, and the well-being of the people and civil servants. "This move shows that the government is listening to and understands the voices and concerns raised by trade unions and healthcare workers, who struggle daily on the front lines to save lives, regardless of time or circumstance. "Cuepacs believes that maintaining the 42-hour workweek will not only help safeguard the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of healthcare workers, but also ensure that the quality of public healthcare services remains at the highest level," he said in a statement today. Yesterday, the Public Service Department announced that the government had agreed to exempt five critical service schemes under the Health Ministry from the implementation of a 45-hour shift workweek, allowing them to retain their existing 42-hour week instead. The exemption covers 82,637 frontline personnel, including nurses, community nurses, emergency department medical officers, assistant medical officers and healthcare assistants. Adnan added that Cuepacs will also continue to champion the welfare of public servants in line with the nation's aspirations. "We thank the government for continuing to provide space for negotiations and for listening to the voice of trade unions in policymaking related to the civil service."

Cuepacs supports gag order but urges fair implementation
Cuepacs supports gag order but urges fair implementation

New Straits Times

time20-06-2025

  • Politics
  • New Straits Times

Cuepacs supports gag order but urges fair implementation

KUALA LUMPUR: There has been a rise in public statements on social media that occasionally distort facts, misrepresent government decisions, or damage the image of public servants and the government as a whole, said Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) president Datuk Dr Adnan Mat. As such, the government's circular issued yesterday, prohibiting public servants from making any public statements, whether orally or in writing, that could undermine government policies, plans, or decisions on any issue, serves as a reminder of existing regulations. "We view this directive as an important measure to uphold the professionalism, integrity, and accountability of public servants, especially in an era of rapidly evolving digital communication. "There has been a proliferation of provocative, misleading, or incomplete content shared publicly, which may erode public trust in government policies and direction. "Thus, this circular is seen as a proactive step to address these issues and safeguard the reputation of the public service," he told the New Straits Times. He said the circular published yesterday must also be implemented fairly, transparently, and in accordance with due process, without suppressing the right of public servants to voice their concerns through formal and internal mechanisms. He said that addressing the matter with feedback and constructive dialogue was essential, through proper internal channels. "Cuepacs is also concerned about the growing trend of public servants engaging in live streaming during working hours, with content that does not reflect the ethics and professionalism expected in the public service. "Such actions create negative public perceptions and risk further tarnishing the image of Malaysia's civil service, whose primary responsibility is to deliver quality services to the people," Adnan said. However, National Council of Professors president Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Raduan Che Rose voiced concern that the circular risks undermining open, constructive policy debate, especially on platforms where scholars contribute alternative ideas to improve governance. He recommended that the directive be retracted or revised with clear safeguards. "The council recommends that the directive be revised to distinguish between political commentary and academic or professional policy input, accompanied by guidelines on what constitutes 'undermining' versus 'constructive criticism', and align it with international best practices that uphold professional neutrality while allowing civil servants to contribute meaningfully to public discourse," he said. Raduan said that if scholars fear consequences for honest analysis, it may result in the erosion of public trust in academic institutions, stifle intellectual innovation, and lead to a lack of checks and balances from the civil service itself. "Article 10 of the Federal Constitution includes the right to engage in critical inquiry, research, and evidence-based policy discourse, even when such views challenge prevailing government narratives. "A vague or broadly worded prohibition invites selective enforcement and may infringe constitutional rights," he said. Nonetheless, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) commissioner Ragunath Kesavan did not flag any constitutional violations. "As an employee, there is a general duty to maintain confidentiality and not to injure the reputation of the employer," he said. However, he added that the circular does not absolve civil servants of their responsibility to report wrongdoings, criminal acts, dishonesty, or abuse. "By law, there is a duty to report any purported criminal offence. Not doing so is, in itself, an offence. "Civil servants must be cautious and vigilant to ensure that they carry out their duties diligently and lawfully. The circular does not apply to cover up wrongdoing," he cautioned, referring to all offences under Malaysian law, including corruption. Yesterday, the government issued a circular titled 'Prohibition on Making Public Statements Under Subregulation 19(1) of the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993 (P.U. (A) 395/1993)', dated June 19, 2025, and signed by Public Service Department (PSD) director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz.

Over RM1.5 million in PHEKS 2025 aid approved for 114 Southern Zone applications
Over RM1.5 million in PHEKS 2025 aid approved for 114 Southern Zone applications

The Sun

time03-06-2025

  • Business
  • The Sun

Over RM1.5 million in PHEKS 2025 aid approved for 114 Southern Zone applications

JOHOR BAHRU: A total of RM1.5 million has been approved for 114 applications from the Southern Zone under the 2025 Trade Union Affairs Programme (PHEKS), said Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad. He said the amount marked a significant increase from the RM674,000 disbursed for 85 applications in the same zone in 2024, reflecting the growing participation in the ministry's empowerment programmes. 'For the Southern Zone, which covers Johor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan, 195 applications amounting to over RM3 million have been received so far,' he added. 'Out of the total, 114 applications have been approved, involving an allocation of RM1,505,462,' he told reporters after officiating the Southern Zone PHEKS 2025 Assistance presentation ceremony here today. Also present were JHEKS director-general Mohd Asri Abdul Wahab, Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (CUEPACS) deputy president II Azman Shah Abdul Rahman, and Union Network International-Malaysian Liaison Council (UNI-MLC) president Datuk Mohammed Shafie BP Mammal. Abdul Rahman said Johor received the highest allocation, amounting to RM703,565 for 61 applications, followed by Negeri Sembilan with RM441,900 for 32 applications, and Melaka with RM359,998 for 21 applications. He also emphasised that the annual allocation to trade unions under the PHEKS programme has steadily increased over the past three years, underscoring the government's ongoing commitment to strengthening the role of unions as strategic partners in the national labour ecosystem. 'In 2023, the government allocated RM2.6 million. This increased to RM5.8 million in 2024, and for this year, RM10 million has been set aside to empower trade unions nationwide. 'We hope this figure will continue to grow, surpassing RM10 million in 2026,' he said. At the same event, Abdul Rahman also presented assistance to union representatives and officiated the launch of two research publications on trade unions titled 'The Role of Trade Unions in Combating Forced Labour Issue in Malaysia' and 'SSPA: Heading to a More Secure Retirement'. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), in a statement, disclosed that trade union membership in Malaysia has now surpassed 1 million, with 1,038,435 registered members across 762 unions as of 2024.

Over RM1.5 million in PHEKS 2025 aid approved
Over RM1.5 million in PHEKS 2025 aid approved

The Sun

time03-06-2025

  • Business
  • The Sun

Over RM1.5 million in PHEKS 2025 aid approved

JOHOR BAHRU: A total of RM1.5 million has been approved for 114 applications from the Southern Zone under the 2025 Trade Union Affairs Programme (PHEKS), said Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad. He said the amount marked a significant increase from the RM674,000 disbursed for 85 applications in the same zone in 2024, reflecting the growing participation in the ministry's empowerment programmes. 'For the Southern Zone, which covers Johor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan, 195 applications amounting to over RM3 million have been received so far,' he added. 'Out of the total, 114 applications have been approved, involving an allocation of RM1,505,462,' he told reporters after officiating the Southern Zone PHEKS 2025 Assistance presentation ceremony here today. Also present were JHEKS director-general Mohd Asri Abdul Wahab, Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (CUEPACS) deputy president II Azman Shah Abdul Rahman, and Union Network International-Malaysian Liaison Council (UNI-MLC) president Datuk Mohammed Shafie BP Mammal. Abdul Rahman said Johor received the highest allocation, amounting to RM703,565 for 61 applications, followed by Negeri Sembilan with RM441,900 for 32 applications, and Melaka with RM359,998 for 21 applications. He also emphasised that the annual allocation to trade unions under the PHEKS programme has steadily increased over the past three years, underscoring the government's ongoing commitment to strengthening the role of unions as strategic partners in the national labour ecosystem. 'In 2023, the government allocated RM2.6 million. This increased to RM5.8 million in 2024, and for this year, RM10 million has been set aside to empower trade unions nationwide. 'We hope this figure will continue to grow, surpassing RM10 million in 2026,' he said. At the same event, Abdul Rahman also presented assistance to union representatives and officiated the launch of two research publications on trade unions titled 'The Role of Trade Unions in Combating Forced Labour Issue in Malaysia' and 'SSPA: Heading to a More Secure Retirement'. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), in a statement, disclosed that trade union membership in Malaysia has now surpassed 1 million, with 1,038,435 registered members across 762 unions as of 2024.

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