The landscape of work in Malaysia underwent a formal shift with the
introduction of Part XIIC in the Employment Act 1955. This new provision
empowers employees to formally request flexibility in their working conditions.
Under Section 60P, an employee may apply to their employer for a flexible
working arrangement to vary their hours of work, days of work, or place
of work. This application must be made in writing and submitted in the
manner determined by the Director General of Labour.
According to Section 60Q, once an application is received, the employer
has 60 days to provide a decision. If the employer refuses the request,
they are legally obligated to inform the employee in writing and state
the specific grounds for the refusal. This amendment marks a significant
step toward modernizing the Malaysian workforce to support better work-life
integration.
