Concerns raised over increase in working hours for ward nurses

 

Senator RA Lingeshwaran said nurses and healthcare workers rarely have time to take breaks as they are constantly under pressure tending to patients.

PETALING JAYA: 

Concern has been voiced over a new directive under the civil service remuneration system (SSPA) that will require ward nurses to work an additional three hours per week.

Starting Dec 1, nurses working in shifts will be required to work 45 hours a week, up from their current 42 hours.

Following this directive, hospitals are considering revising the current shift hours for nurses to 7am–3pm, 3pm–10pm, and 10pm–7am the following day. Currently, the shift hours are 7am–2pm, 2pm–9pm, and 9pm–7am the following day.

RA Lingeshwaran.

Senator RA Lingeshwaran, a former director of the Sungai Bakap Hospital in Penang, said the 45-hour workweek was more suited to office-based civil servants working five days a week, from 8am to 5pm, with weekends off.

“For shift workers… especially in essential services such as health and security, the work is round-the-clock throughout the year,” he told FMT.

“The working hours and environment for such shift workers differ significantly from those of office workers or those in traditional 8am–5pm jobs.”

Lingeshwaran said comparing shift workers to office workers was illogical as the physical and mental impact of night shifts was not the same.

“Emergencies often occur at night, keeping staff awake. The time they are given to recover during the day is insufficient to make up for lost sleep,” he said.

He added that nurses were not given shift allowances like private-sector shift workers.

Lingeshwaran also noted that the actual working hours for office workers were closer to 39 hours a week, considering their hour-long lunch breaks and time off for Friday prayers.

He said that in comparison, nurses and healthcare workers rarely had time to take breaks as they were constantly under pressure tending to patients.

“Essential service staff do not have the same luxury,” he said, adding that nurses and uniformed personnel often had to settle for quick meals while working.

“They are already under severe pressure to spend enough time with their families. Adding extra hours will have an adverse impact on their quality of life.”

Saaidah Athman.

Malayan Nurses Union president Saaidah Athman said it was unfair to compare nurses who worked shifts, including night duties, to office workers who only worked weekdays.

Saaidah said although the public service department had issued the SSPA circular, nurses were still awaiting the health ministry’s directive regarding the additional working hours.

“Most of the nurses are women with families, and adding more hours will lead to more stress,” she said.

“I hope the health ministry will take our plight into consideration.”

FMT has reached out to the health ministry for comment. - FMT