PETALING JAYA: A source said the new ruling to cut the number of working hours a week from 48 to 45 could be deferred.

A source told Sin Chew Daily human resources minister Datuk Seri Saravanan Murugan promised not to implement the 45-hour week policy on September 1, during his recent meeting with industrial representatives.

Earlier, Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) president Datuk Dr. Syed Hussain Syed Husman urged the government to defer the implementation of amendments to the Employment Act 1955 originally slated for September 1.

New rulings to be introduced from September 1 include: monthly salary threshold for employees’ entitlement to overtime benefits to be raised from RM2,000 to RM4,000; the number of weekly working hours to be reduced from 48 to 45; maternity leave from 60 to 98 days and seven days of paternity leave.

MEF said if the above new rulings were to be enforced, Malaysian employers would have to bear additional RM110.99 billion of cost each year.

Other new rulings include Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA) and 60 days of hospitalization leave.