Govt mulls extending WFH with full pay for those caring for sick family members

The government is looking into extending the work from home (WFH) arrangement for both public and private sector staff and giving full pay to enable workers to care for an ailing family member, or in the case of men, to help their wives look after a newborn child.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the move was to encourage shared responsibility and enable women to remain in employment as well as to increase their work productivity.

“I suggest that the Public Service Department and the human resources ministry look into the feasibility of extending this facility,” he said in his pre-recorded Women’s Day 2021 speech broadcast over several television networks today.

The prime minister said the government was also looking into extending the WFH arrangement for workers whose spouses have just died, as matters related to the loss of loved ones normally take time to settle.

He also urged all parties concerned to ensure the provision of a safe working environment, including taking measures to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.