THE government must ensure that women employed in the civil service have access to the same rights and entitlements regarding maternity leave as their counterparts in the private sector, said Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy.
Its CEO Azrul Mohd Khalib was responding to recent reports of the Hulu Langat health clinic that allowed only 60 days of maternity leave for seven of its medical officers.
“This is 2024…(They) should not be forced to choose between a career in the civil service and having a child,” he stressed in a statement on Wednesday (Aug 7).
“Yet, there are circumstances where many doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals who have left the service, disappointed by the seemingly lack of compassion and empathy by administrators, especially since the COVID-19 crisis.”
Commenting on this matter, Azrul further noted that the situation is an opportunity for the government to introduce meaningful reforms not just to the health service but to the entire Malaysian civil service as a whole.
“A number of things must change institutionally. First, the Service Circulars for Human Resources (MyPPSM) should be immediately amended to reflect a maximum of 98 days full-pay maternity leave for all eligible civil servants,” he stated.
“Secondly, most importantly, attitudes regarding civil service employment must change.
“Practices which are exploitative in nature, such as unpaid or uncompensated labour, unreasonably long working hours, bullying, and curtailing of job entitlements such as leaves should not be normalised, romanticised, or desensitised.
“Unfortunately, some of these practices have been described for too long as sacrifices or altruism, especially in the healthcare space.”
Azrul said those who are in administrative roles and functions particularly Administrative and Diplomatic Officers – better known as Pegawai Tadbir dan Diplomatik (PTD) – should know that a higher standard and better quality of governance is expected.
“The civil service has to compete with the private sector for workers, and better and dignified working conditions are a prerequisite and a bare minimum. It is not always about how much a person is paid,” he pointed out.
“Healthcare professionals including doctors and nurses who have voiced out their objections or insist on better working conditions, have been described as weak, soft, and pampered, as if experiencing abuse or neglect was a necessary trial by fire or badge of honour.
“We do them a disservice by waving off their concerns, taking complaints lightly, or gaslighting them. Listen to them, and respond appropriately.”
Azrul said the government can and must also find additional funds for locum doctors, contract healthcare professionals such as nurses as well as pharmacists.
“We cannot afford to lose dedicated people who have made a commitment to a career in public service, simply because they are asking for better or more supportive working conditions,” he said.
“Not responding to this issue appropriately and progressively, would be a missed opportunity for the Government.”
Health news portal CodeBlue recently broke the story about a June 27 circular by Hulu Langat district health office (PKD) that cut, with immediate effect, maternity leave from 90 to 60 days for medical officers in all 15 Klinik Kesihatan in the district due to staff shortages.
This had led to backlash by various quarters, which led to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad reinstating the 90-day maternity leave for medical officers in public health clinics under the Hulu Langat PKD. – Focus Malaysia
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