Johor Assemblyperson Proposes 3-Day Weekend As The State Reviews Its Official Rest Days

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According to The Star, Pasir Raja assemblyperson Nor Rashidah Ismail said countries such as Belgium, Iceland, Scotland, Spain, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) practise a four-day work week from Monday to Thursday with rest days from Fridays to Sundays.

She said this during a state assembly meeting about official rest days at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Kota Iskandar, Johor on Monday, 20 June.

"If productivity is the subject of debate, then I suggest this option where we work full-time from Monday to Thursday with an additional one hour working time," she also said, proposing a two-and-a-half-day weekend arrangement instead.

"If the working hours were 8am to 5pm before, then the implementation of this proposal will see working hours from 8am to 6pm from Monday to Thursday," she explained.

"Then there will be half day working hours on Friday, which is from 8am to noon where Muslim workers are still able to comfortably fulfil their Friday prayers obligation."

Nor Rashidah added that it is better to standardise rest days between the government and private sector to ensure family well-being.

"I am aware of the difficulties. The state government will review this matter so that parents and children can rest on the same days," he said last week.

"I will announce a solution soon after finding a suitable approach to resolve this matter."

Since then, Johor Jaya assemblyperson Leow Can Tung has also urged the state government to hasten its study on the rest day issue so that it can be presented to the Sultan of Johor.

"The state is among the main contributors to the nation's economy. Standardising rest days with private entities will enhance productivity, efficiency, and Johor's tourism sector," she said during the assembly.

Malay Mail reported that the change was to make it easier for Muslims in the state to attend Friday prayers and was implemented since 1 January 2014.

Besides Johor, states such as Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu also have Friday and Saturday as their days off, instead of Saturday and Sunday.