KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 — The Ministry of Health (MOH) is maintaining a 42-hour weekly work schedule for nurses, with any further reduction to 38 hours to be considered only when the nursing workforce becomes sufficient, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said
In a written Dewan Negara reply on March 4, Dzulkefly said the government granted an exemption on July 11, 2025, for shift-based working hours involving five critical service schemes in MOH, including nurses, setting their work hours at 42 hours per week.
“This action is in line with the aspiration of the MADANI government which emphasises compassion and welfare in ensuring the wellbeing of the people and civil servants,” Dzulkefly said.
He added that MOH views the 42-hour work week as sufficient for now, compared with the previous 45-hour weekly schedule stipulated under the Public Service Remuneration System.
“A reduction in working hours to 38 hours may be considered in the future when the number of nurses is sufficient,” Dzulkefly said in response to a question from Senator Roderick Wong Siew Lead.
Dzulkefly said MOH remains committed to improving incentives and career prospects for nurses to retain them in the public health system.
Among the measures is the appointment of nurses to permanent posts, which MOH described as one of the successful strategies to attract nurses to remain in service.
The health minister also highlighted career progression opportunities, including promotions from U5 to U6 and U7 grades through the time-based excellence promotion scheme, as well as advancement to U9 positions in the management and professional group through an integrated service scheme introduced in 2005.
Nurses are also offered opportunities for advanced training with fully paid study leave, including post-basic and advanced diploma programmes. Nurses who complete these courses may receive a Post-Basic Incentive Payment (BIPB) of RM100 per month.
Additional incentives include allowances for treating psychiatric, tuberculosis, and leprosy patients of RM100 per month, rural allowances ranging from RM135 to RM210 monthly, as well as location and hardship incentives ranging from RM500 to RM1,500 per month.
To improve working conditions and workforce sustainability, the ministry said it is also focusing on improving workplace environments through more flexible shift scheduling, as well as mental health support services, including the HEAL 15555 hotline.
MOH is also implementing automation and digitalisation under the Strategic Digitalisation Plan 2026–2030 to reduce non-clinical workloads among nurses.
“These measures aim to increase job satisfaction and reduce attrition among nurses,” Dzulkefly said.
The 42-hour work week for nurses was introduced last year after the Public Service Department (JPA) granted exemptions to five MOH service schemes from a proposed 45-hour weekly work schedule under the new public service pay system.
The exemption applies to nurses, community nurses, emergency department medical officers, assistant medical officers, and health care assistants, covering more than 80,000 health workers.
The decision followed months of objections from health care workers who warned that extending shift-based working hours to 45 hours weekly could worsen burnout, staff shortages, and risks to patient safety.
