Local employers are offering flexible arrangements for staff in lieu of Malaysia’s midweek polling day
In preparation for Malaysia’s upcoming polling day, several employers are offering flexible arrangements to employees to allow them to return home with ease.
IKEA Singapore is one such employer, giving staff a one-off, extra paid day of leave to make the trip to the polls on Wednesday, 9 May. The day has been declared a public holiday in Malaysia.
The Swedish furniture giant’s Singapore office employs about 80 Malaysians.
“We take our social responsibilities seriously and we want to enable our co-workers to take individual responsibility too,” said Aldys Kong, IKEA Southeast Asia’s benefits and employment manager.
Employees that need more than one day will have to apply for annual leave, she added.
Local public transport operator Go-Ahead Singapore will also be showing support for staff by rearranging schedules for its shift workers.
“Our shift schedules are planned such that most colleagues will have ample time to return home and cast their votes before or after a shift,” its spokesman said.
Go-Ahead will also be open to facilitating “feasible arrangements”, according to Channel Newsasia.
Many Malaysian workers based overseas had expressed concern when the government first announced the midweek polling day on Tuesday (10 April). This is the country’s first weekday poll in nearly two decades.
