Some 8,500 postmen nationwide will enjoy a five working day week from Jan 1 next year compared to six working day week presently.

pos malaysia 170305 pos malaysia counters Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim said the postmen are part of 16,500 employees of Pos Malaysia Berhad who deserve to enjoy new working hours.

However, for postmen in Sabah and Sarawak, the new working hours would only be effective on Feb 1 as Pos Malaysia requires more time to make the adjustment.

“For these two states (Sabah and Sarawak) Pos Malaysia will need four weeks more than peninsula to prepare for operation and administration and taking into account the geography," he told reporters after a 'Ramah Mesra' programme with representatives of Pos Malaysia Workers Union in Kuala Lumpur, today.

Also present were Information, Communications and Culture Deputy Minister Joseph Salang Gandum, ministry secretary-general Kamaruddin Siaraf and Pos Malaysia Berhad chairperson Mohd Khamil Jamil.

Rais said employees who need to work on weekends, especially in shopping malls, could claim for reasonable overtime.

"The adjustment of working hours from six working days to five working days proves that the government transformation programme has the people at heart, he added.

Meanwhile, Pos Malaysia Berhad Assistant Executive Union president Jamaluddin Kassim said the new working hours give Pos Malaysia employees more time to be with the family.

He said the fight to reduce the working hours began since 1992.

- Bernama