Workers pay out of pocket when working from home, Saddiq tells MEF

 

It is unfair to dock allowances of those working from home as the practice comes at a cost to employees, Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said.

He was responding to the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) which said it is fair to cut the take-home pay of workers who work from home, including cutting transport allowances.

"What kind of suggestion is this? Workers who work from home also pay to work.

"They pay (additional) electricity bills and pay for their own Wi-Fi (internet) connection. They also work until late at night.

"But (employers) are so quick to think of ways to cut pay," the Muda president said on Twitter.

On Sunday, MEF chairperson Shamsuddin Bardan (above, right) said it is reasonable to cut pay, including transport allowance, for those working from home as workers do not need to commute to work.

He added that many employers said they are considering it, but the reduction would not be large and will be between 10 and 12 percent.

This way, he said, workers can choose whether to return to the workplace for the additional allowance or continue working from home.

However, he noted that employers have an obligation to provide the tools needed to work from home, like internet connection.

Can be productive

Shamsuddin said MEF's checks on companies found most companies do not prefer work from home or hybrid work arrangements where workers are in the workplace several days a week.

He added that MEF believes workers can be as productive or even more productive while working from home because they need not face the stress of commuting.

His views came as Malaysia has been moving toward Covid-19 endemicity, prompting more companies to end work from home arrangements.

According to the job listings website Jobstreet, 67 percent of Malaysian companies required staff to work from home during the Covid-19 lockdown period.

Following this experience, 27 percent of human resources decision-makers surveyed said they continue endorsing remote work while 30 percent would recommend fewer hours working from home.

The survey also found larger organisations, more established companies and those with higher salaried employees were more open to allowing more hours where employees work from home.

It added that 48 percent of employers surveyed cited reduced productivity from staff when working from home. - Mkini