Malaysian civil servants walk out from their office in Putrajaya in this file picture taken on October 16, 2013. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 — The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government is offering civil servants flexible working hours beginning March, as part of a pilot programme.

However, the Public Service Department (PSD), via a circular posted on its official Facebook page today, said that the programme would only involve civil servants working at federal agencies in select states.

The circular stated that civil servants will be allowed to clock in between 7.30am and 8.30am, and clock out between 4.30pm and 5.30pm, so long as they work the full nine hours. Those who start working before 7.30am however, would still be considered as having started work at 7.30am, and no overtime allowance is permitted, unless ordered.

This arrangement is for civil servants working in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Perlis, Perak, Selangor, Sabah and Sarawak.

Owing to different working days and weekends off, those working in Johor and Terengganu meanwhile, can choose to clock in between 7.30am and 8.30am on Sundays till Wednesdays, and clock out between 4.30pm and 5.30pm, and on Thursdays, 3pm and 4pm, as long as they work seven and a half hours.

PSD said that the programme is currently under trial, to gauge its effectiveness.

“This is to gauge the effectiveness of the Flexible Working Hour (Waktu Bekerja Flexi), should it be enforced on all government agencies later,” PSD said.

It added that the flexibility for pregnant staff and their spouses to leave office an hour early, as stipulated in a 2017 circular, is also applicable under the current pilot programme.

PSD said that the programme will begin in March, until a yet to be announced date.