IPOH: Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said that any move to implement a four-and-a-half-day workweek in the public sector would require a thorough study.
Saarani said that the state government currently has no plans to shorten the working week but is open to conducting a study if deemed necessary.
"This requires proper study. Perhaps Johor has already done one, but each sector operates under different circumstances.
"Previously, people worked six days a week, with Saturday being a half day. However, studies revealed that half-day work on Saturdays was unproductive.
"For example, bank officers would sometimes show up in jeans because it was just a half day, and the work atmosphere wasn't the same as on full working days. This led to the transition to a five-day workweek.
"Now, any proposal to reduce the five-day workweek—such as making Friday a half day for Friday prayers—would also require a comprehensive study," he explained.
Saarani pointed out that Friday prayers are primarily attended by men, whereas women make up the majority of the workforce.
"Therefore, I believe conducting a study is essential. We will not rush into any decision. If necessary, we will assess the proposal through careful research," he added.
Currently, Johor is studying a proposal to change the public sector working period to only four-and-a-half days a week.
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said this is due to the reintroduction of weekend days off beginning Jan 1, 2025.
He said to achieve this, the state government is currently working on improving productivity and boosting service delivery.