Johor changes rest day to Friday and Saturday from 1 Jan

[star]

SINGAPORE: Malaysia's Johor state has announced that from January 1 next year, the state's rest days will be on Fridays and Saturdays instead of Saturdays and Sundays.

The Singapore Business Federation (SBF), whose members have business ventures and investments across the Causeway and in the Iskandar Malaysia region, said the decision by the Johor state comes at a bad time.

Speaking to Channel NewsAsia, SBF's CEO Ho Meng Kit said the move will make business more inefficient because a Singapore company doing business in Johor would only have four working days (Mondays to Thursdays).

Mr Ho explained: "So if you are going to transfer goods and services between the HQ and the subsidiary, you could only do it on four days. It will be inefficient. I guess, over time, the companies on both sides will have to make adjustments."

Both Mr Ho and the vice-president of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, Kurt Wee, noted that the other states in Western Malaysia and in particular Kuala Lumpur have their weekends for the workforce on Saturdays and Sundays.

So, dealing with subsidiaries in Johor, KL and Penang all at the same time would be difficult.

Mr Wee added: "The shortcoming is that even if the Johor workforce, economy, banks (are operational) on Sundays, the rest of the surrounding economic centres - Singapore, Kuala Lumpur - are not working that day. So...it's not going to be as effective a workday."

[princess_morbucks]

SG kids who study in Johor will have 1 day less bonding time with their families in SG.

[solsys]

Singapore investors are screwed again.....

[princess_morbucks]

Singapore investors are screwed again.....

In what way?
Please elaborate.

[leesg123]

In what way?
Please elaborate.

I think this is a clear showcase of how easy it is for them flip and flop to their own agenda.

[indomie]

In what way?
Please elaborate.
When businesses are becoming less efficient due to Synchronization problem, less demand for housing is also expected.

[princess_morbucks]

When businesses are becoming less efficient due to Synchronization problem, less demand for housing is also expected.

But it will apply to government offices only, right?
The private businesses can continue to operate?

[sgbuyer]

But it will apply to government offices only, right?
The private businesses can continue to operate?


I think yes, but need to abide by labor laws. Like in Singapore, work on Sunday is x2.

[DC33_2008]

Just heard fm malaysian news that private sector have a choice to remai status quo.
But it will apply to government offices only, right?
The private businesses can continue to operate?

[ichigo55]

I thought its not new in MY

http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/malaysia/Travellers_Guide_&_Tips/76/working_hours_in_malaysia__.php

Government Offices
All government offices operate on a five-day week. In all states, except Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, offices are open from Mondays to Fridays and are closed during the weekend. Government offices in the states of Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu operate from Sundays to Thursdays. They are closed on Fridays and Saturdays.

If a public holiday (for festivals and special occasions) falls on a non-working day, the following day will be declared a holiday.

The working hours for government offices are as follows:
Ø Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya : 8.00am to 5.3Opm, Monday to Friday
Ø In Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu
8.00am to 4.45pm (from Sundays to Wednesdays) and
8.00am to 4.30pm (on Thursdays).
Ø In all other states, working hours are from 8.00am to 5.00pm, Monday
to Friday.


There is a long lunch break on Fridays (12.15pm – 2.45pm) to allow the Muslims to perform their prayers.

[princess_morbucks]

Businesses divided over Friday-Saturday weekend

http://news.asiaone.com/news/malaysia/businesses-divided-over-friday-saturday-weekend

[fiat500]

Businesses divided over Friday-Saturday weekend

http://news.asiaone.com/news/malaysia/businesses-divided-over-friday-saturday-weekend

JB is taking a step backwards by doing this..
How to move forward like that? People will have 2nd thoughts to invest there for sure..

[radha08]

i think friday is prayer day for muslims thats why they do this...:cheers1::cheers1::cheers1:

[fiat500]

i think friday is prayer day for muslims thats why they do this...:cheers1::cheers1::cheers1:

U can pray for all u want but why disrupt other people's life?

[kamparboy]

Imagine for Singaporean living in JB, Can settle banking and gov related on Sunday. No need to take leave anymore. Hurray

[Arcachon]

Always remember in the old days when during Chinese New Year, all the Malay store are open. Now there are less store open during Chinese New Year.

[hyenergix]

I welcome the change too, as Sun will have more shops and service outlets open. Banking, bill payment and liaising with government offices will be much easier. It will be a boost to the economy. However Johor parents with schooling children in Johor but working in Singapore will have a big headache on Fridays.

[leesg123]

I think the concern here is not that of consumer. But that of businesses. B2B will be challenging.

[minority]

I think this is a clear showcase of how easy it is for them flip and flop to their own agenda.

That's why I say it's screw up there. Waiting to screw sgpean investors.

[princess_morbucks]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/johor-rest-days-switch/899394.html

SINGAPORE: The Johor state government's decision to change its weekend days to Friday and Saturday from the traditional Saturday and Sunday, could lead to higher manpower costs, which could in turn lead to higher prices for consumers, said companies and stakeholders in Singapore.
The Singapore Fruits and Vegetable Importers and Exporters Association said goods from Johor Bahru may end up costing slightly more.
That is because workers will still need to work on Fridays to meet demand in Singapore, so workers will have to be given overtime pay.
The same concerns are also expressed by logistics companies as drivers will now have to be recalled on their rest days.
They said the challenge will be in coordinating work times and logistics, as the new rule kicks in just a month before the Lunar New Year.

The Johor State government has announced that come January, weekends will start on Friday instead of Saturday. And the start of the work week will fall on a Sunday.

Dave Ng, chairman of Singapore Transport Association, said: "The mindset of all of us is to work five and a half days, but you have to really convince people because from five and a half days, you are actually working one full week. So you have to change the mindset.

“We can look into alternatives. To get different colleagues to come in for the first 6 months and see how these things go and we will then see how we can adjust to make sure service is not affected."

[Shanhz]

actually, try looking at it from another perspective. most firms actually become more productive. why?

last time, muslims will take time off on fridays to pray. sometimes after praying, go back work 1 hour then balik kampung. so effectively, they have 2.5 days of weekend.

now, they officially have 2 days of weekends and no more.

[solsys]

actually, try looking at it from another perspective. most firms actually become more productive. why?

last time, muslims will take time off on fridays to pray. sometimes after praying, go back work 1 hour then balik kampung. so effectively, they have 2.5 days of weekend.

now, they officially have 2 days of weekends and no more.

Fair statement.

[eng81157]

but the rest of the business world don't work on sundays. so that means they get an unofficial off day on sundays too eh?

[minority]

which means additional cost for business. i.e. importing ur fish n meat n veg on Friday from JB will cost more coz over time cost. and usually local market here take a breather on sunday.