Johor Government May Implement a 4.5-Day Workweek in the Near Future

A 4-day workweek sounds ideal, but a 4-and-a-half day workweek doesn’t sound bad either. Johoreans may be in luck next year as the state government is considering implementing the latter!

However, keep in mind that this possible new work schedule is only applicable to civil servants.

The State’s Menteri Besar, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, said that this consideration came after it was announced that Johor would be reverting to Saturday-Sunday weekends, effective January 1, 2025.

As a result, he mentioned that the state government is actively making improvements to enhance productivity and improve its service delivery system.

“This includes strengthening digital services by adding transactions that can be conducted online. The Johor government will also extend the operating hours of critical counter services to continue operating, including during the break time between 1 PM and 2 PM.”

The operating hours of counter services at all state government departments and agencies, federal government agencies, and local authorities will also be standardized.

“If these improvement efforts go well and smoothly, in the future, the state government is ready to consider the proposal to change the working hours to four and a half days without reducing the overall working hours for the public sector,” Onn said today (November 21) when tabling the Budget 2025 for Johor, which was shared on his Facebook post.

As good as it sounds, Onn clarified that it will require the consent of the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, and the blessing of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim.

Regardless, what do you think of the idea of a 4-and-a-half-day workweek? Should it be implemented nationwide?

Also read: M’sians Call For WFH Again After Trend of Leaving Home Early For Work & Sleeping in Car Returns