Review laws to cope with changes after Covid-19 work from home policies, says MEF

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Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) President Datuk Syed Hussain Syed Husman says definition of workplace, terms and conditions needs to be reviewed
SHAH ALAM: Bosses have asked Putrajaya to review relevant laws in Employment Act and Trades Union Act to cope with the changes after the Covid-19 pandemic.

It further called the government to review Occupational Safety and Health Act and Social Security Protection Act (Socso) as employees look for flexibility as they look for work-life balance and physical and emotional health.

Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) President Datuk Syed Hussain Syed Husman said the terms and conditions of employment including salary, benefits, increments, bonuses, insurance and others have to be reviewed in order to accommodate the future of work and the workplace.

"The total compensation has to be based on the job scope, linking to accountability, responsibility and performance of an individual and not based on where he works from," he added.

He said MEF also agrees with Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M Saravanan that there will be no change in the manner employees are treated either working from office or remote.

"Employers are supportive of the future of work and flexible work arrangements. However, it must be noted that not all jobs can be done from remote places," he said.

He said the pandemic has changed the definition of as employees working from home.

"From working from home to office, technology has added to this change. Today we have video conference apps like zoom and micro link and others. These make it possible to work from anywhere around the globe.

"Employers and employees have to accept and adapt to these new ways of work," he said in a statement.

He added that this is the future and "it’s only going to be more complex."

Due to this, he said several supporting structures have to be introduced to create a better conduce environment for future of work, he said.

The changes in the law will also allow businesses and employees to respond quickly to supply chain disruptions, technological developments, and societal changes as remote work and virtual interactions, e-commerce and digital transactions, and more deployment of automation and Artificial Intelligence are likely.

Even though the government had implemented the policy of transition to endemic and opened the borders with effect from April 1, 2022, economic recovery success is still not assured.

He said new business models are significantly altering and disrupting industries, such as banking and retail.

"They are reinventing business models that improve productivity and customer experience, and by doing so are positioning themselves for success in the new normal. Across all sectors, technological change is reshaping and redefining existing works and creating new works," he added.