Latest news with #SMSU
The Star
2 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Union advocates for 42-hour work week for all healthcare workers
KOTA KINABALU: All healthcare workers, including those in complementary sectors and those on shift duties, should also be permitted a 42-hour work week, says the Sabah Medical Services Union (SMSU). SMSU President Ajulahin Japin praised the federal government for abandoning plans to enforce a 45-hour work week for more than 82,000 healthcare workers. He also suggested that this change should be applied to other healthcare industry workers. 'SMSU urges the government to extend this decision to include all other healthcare workers who also work on shift duty, such as pharmacy assistants, ambulance drivers, and other clinical support staff who are similarly affected by shift work demands and heavy workloads,' he said. On July 11, the Public Services Department (PSD) stated that the exemption would involve a total of 82,637 healthcare personnel, comprising nurses, community nurses, medical officers in emergency departments, assistant medical officers and healthcare assistants. This followed opposition after the announcement of the implementation of a 45-hour per week shift work schedule under the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA), which was scheduled to take effect on March 1. An interim moratorium on the 45-hour work week for healthcare staff was extended by three months on March 8.
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Express
Sabah medical body lauds decision to keep 42-hour work week
Published on: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 16, 2025 Text Size: Ajulahin said the move acknowledges the critical role of healthcare staff who serve as the backbone of the country's medical services and often work beyond their limits to meet the demands of the system. Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Medical Services Union (SMSU) has lauded the Federal Government's decision to retain the 42-hour work week for specific healthcare personnel, describing it as 'timely and compassionate'. SMSU President Ajulahin Japin, who also heads the Coalition of President and General Secretary of 26 healthcare workers' unions under the Ministry of Health, said the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on July 11 reflects the administration's understanding of the immense workload carried by frontline health workers. Advertisement The decision, made during an official meeting with healthcare unions at the Prime Minister's Office, applies to medical officers, nurses, community nurses and healthcare assistants. 'This is the result of a long and persistent campaign by unions across the country. We appreciate the Prime Minister's and the Madani Government's sensitivity and willingness to engage with us,' Ajulahin said in a statement. He said the move acknowledges the critical role of healthcare staff who serve as the backbone of the country's medical services and often work beyond their limits to meet the demands of the system. However, SMSU urged the Government not to stop there. The union is calling for the same consideration to be extended to other shift-based healthcare personnel such as pharmacy assistants, ambulance drivers and clinical support staff who, it said, face similarly demanding working conditions. 'Social justice and equitable treatment for all healthcare workers are crucial to sustaining morale and ensuring the delivery of quality services,' Ajulahin said. The union hopes the Government will continue to open dialogues with stakeholders and ensure that future decisions align with the values of inclusiveness under the Malaysia Madani framework. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
5 days ago
- Health
- Borneo Post
SMSU lauds return to 42-hour work week for MOH frontliners
Members of the SMSU and healthcare personnel pose for a group photo in a show of solidarity following the government's decision to reinstate the 42-hour work week. 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.
Daily Express
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
One-Stop Labour Service Centre
Published on: Wednesday, June 04, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 04, 2025 Text Size: Steven Sim being welcomed by SMSU officials during the working visit. Kota Kinabalu: The Human Resources Ministry (Kesuma) will establish a One-Stop Labour Service Centre in Sabah as a new initiative to consolidate various employment-related services under one roof. Its Minister Steven Sim said the setting up the centre marks the latest step towards expanding this initiative throughout the country. 'We hope this one-stop centre will be realised in the months to come. 'All worker-related issues, whether concerning the Labour Department, Department of Industrial Relations Malaysia, Department of Trade Union Affairs, Perkeso (Social Security Organisation) and so on, can be referred to one place only. Workers no longer need to travel back and forth to various offices,' he said in a statement after making a working visit to the Sabah Medical Services Union (SMSU), here, Tuesday. Sim said the passing of the Sabah Labour Ordinance and Sarawak Labour Ordinance in Parliament last year was a major achievement for Kesuma because it was finally passed after being delayed for over 20 years. 'This step allows for the alignment of workers' rights and protection across the country. We cannot let workers in Sabah and Sarawak continue to lag behind in terms of protection. The success of amending these ordinances is not solely my effort but a collective one with the Malaysian Trade Union Congress, trade unions, the State Government and Kesuma officers. 'The Sabah Labour Ordinance (Amendment) Act 2025 and Sarawak Labour Ordinance (Amendment) Act 2025 have come into effect from May 1, 2025, except for Part IVA, which contains special provisions related to minimum standards for housing, accommodation and worker facilities,' he said. In the meantime, Sim hopes SMSU can increase its membership from 8,000 to 10,000, in line with the national target to double the number of union members from one million to two million. 'Joining the union means we strengthen the voice of the workers. With balanced bargaining power, only then will workers' welfare be more assured. 'To encourage participation in the union, Kesuma launched the Madani Employee Card initiative, which offers discounts ranging from 10 to 30 per cent at selected premises and businesses. 'Efforts to involve more companies are also actively being pursued to expand benefits for every member,' he said. SMSU President Ajulahin Japin said they appreciate the various reforms brought since Sim took the lead in Kesuma, especially involving the full enforcement of the Sabah Labour Ordinance on May 1 this year, as well as the official establishment of the Sabah Labour Advisory Council (SLAC) on May 13. Ajulahin also said he is among the 16 union representatives who received their appointment letters as permanent committee members, and that he has also been appointed to the permanent committee within the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) starting from May 1. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
KESUMA to establish one-stop labour service centre in Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: The Human Resources Ministry (KESUMA) will establish a One-Stop Labour Service Centre in Sabah as a new initiative to consolidate various employment-related services under one roof. Its minister, Steven Sim said the setting up the centre in Sabah marks the latest step towards expanding this initiative throughout the country. 'We hope this one-stop centre will be realised in the months to come. 'All worker-related issues, whether concerning the Labour Department, Department of Industrial Relations Malaysia, Department of Trade Union Affairs, PERKESO (Social Security Organisation) and so on, can be referred to one place only Workers no longer need to travel back and forth to various offices,' he said in a statement after making a working visit to the Sabah Medical Services Union (SMSU) here today. Sim said that the passing of the Sabah Labour Ordinance and Sarawak Labour Ordinance in Parliament last year was a major achievement for KESUMA because it was finally passed after being delayed for over 20 years. 'This step allows for the alignment of workers' rights and protection across the country. We cannot let workers in Sabah and Sarawak continue to lag behind in terms of protection. The success of amending these ordinances is not solely my effort but a collective one with the Malaysian Trade Union Congress, trade unions, the state government and KESUMA officers. 'The Sabah Labour Ordinance (Amendment) Act 2025 and Sarawak Labour Ordinance (Amendment) Act 2025 have come into effect from May 1, 2025, except for Part IVA, which contains special provisions related to minimum standards for housing, accommodation and worker facilities,' he said. In the meantime, Sim hopes that SMSU can increase its membership from 8,000 to 10,000 in line with the national target to double the number of union members from one million to two million. 'Joining the union means we strengthen the voice of the workers. With balanced bargaining power, only then will workers' welfare be more assured. 'To encourage participation in the union, KESUMA launched the MADANI Employee Card initiative, which offers discounts ranging from 10 to 30 per cent at selected premises and businesses. Efforts to involve more companies are also actively being pursued to expand benefits for every member,' he also said. Meanwhile, SMSU president Ajulahin Japin said that they appreciate the various reforms brought since Sim took the lead in KESUMA, especially involving the full enforcement of the Sabah Labour Ordinance on May 1 this year, as well as the official establishment of the Sabah Labour Advisory Council (SLAC) on May 13. Ajulahin also said he is among the 16 union representatives who received their appointment letters as permanent committee members, and that he has also been appointed to the permanent committee within the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) starting from May 1.
