Bulk of 3.1 million workers in 3 sectors can go to office ahead of WFH rule

Some 2.4 million workers in three key sectors in the five states where the conditional movement control order has been imposed will still be able to travel to work, the international trade and industry ministry (Miti) said, clarifying a statement on a new work-from-home (WFH) directive effective tomorrow.

The ministry said there are a total of 3.1 million workers involved in the manufacturing, services and construction in Sabah, Labuan, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya.

Its data shows that 776,135 of them hold management and supervisory positions, roles which can be performed from home.

But while this group must work from home beginning tomorrow in line with the decision by the National Security Council, it said 10% of them are allowed to come to office for a limited number of hours and days per week.

The 10% allowed to come to work are those with managerial and supervisory roles, such as in accounting, finance, administration, legislation, planning and information technology.

The ministry said they would be allowed to be present at their workplace for four hours, for three days a week to fulfil administrative requirements.

Meanwhile, the bulk of the employees, some 2.4 million, will be allowed to go to office as usual.

When contacted, a spokesman at the ministry gave MalaysiaNow an example of how the rule would work.

He said if a company has 1,000 employees with 100 in managerial positions, only 90 employees will be under the compulsory WFH order.

“But it all depends on the company to decide who will be allowed to work in the office,” he said.