AN OVERVIEW OF THE STATE INFLUENCES ON WORKERS’ WORK-LIFE INTEGRATION IN MALAYSIA
Abstract
This paper focuses on the role of the State as a policy maker in the emergence and development of work/non-work policies in the Malaysian public sector organizations. State policies on work/non-work provisions can play an important role in determining the way workers manage their work/non-work lives. Adopting qualitative case study in three public sector organizations in Sabah, Malaysia, findings show that the State, as a policy maker, is the main provider of work/non-work arrangements for public sector workers. It is evident that the role of the State is not just important in terms of providing work/non-work provisions such as maternity / paternity / parental leaves but also in implementing and supporting beneficial work practices and arrangements e.g. flextime and crèche. Although these arrangements were found to be beneficial, particularly for workers with young children in integrating their work-life responsibilities, this study also found that the needs of single workers with parental/siblings commitment were not met by the State. Additionally, familial and communal supports are also expected to be available outside the work environment.
Keywords: Work-life integration; The State; Public sector policy; Workers; Malaysia.
Keywords
References
- Blunsdon, B. & McNeil, N. (2006). State Policy and Work-Life Integration: Past, Present and Future Approaches. In Blyton, P., Blunsdon, B., Reed, K. & Dastmalchian, A. (eds.). Work-life integration. International perspectives on the balancing of multiple roles. (pp. 63-81). Hampshire; New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Coussey, M. (2000). Getting the Right Work-Life Balance. Implementing Family-Friendly Practices. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
- Den Dulk, L. (1999). Employers and Parental Leave: A Comparative Analysis. In Peter Moss, & Fred Deven (Eds.), Parental Leave in Europe: Progress or Pitfall? Brussels: NIDI/CBGS Publications.
- Dex, S. & Smith, C. (2002). The Nature and Pattern of Family-Friendly Employment Policies in Britain. Bristol: The Policy Press
- Economic Planning Unit, 2006. Ninth Malaysia Plan (Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan). Kuala Lumpur: Kerajaan Malaysia.
- (2011). The Malaysian Economy in Figures: Area, Number of Population and Workforce (Kawasan, Bilangan Penduduk dan Tenaga Kerja). Accessed on April, 1, 2012 available at http://www.epu.gov.my.
- Fagnani, J. (2005). The 35-hour laws and the work and family life balance in France. Accessed on April 2010 available at http://www.worklifelaw.org.pubs/FESWorkingTimePublication.pdf.
- Glass, J.L. and Estes, S.B. (1997). ‘The Family Responsive Workplace’. Annual Review of Sociology. 23.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
-
Journal Section
-
Authors
Dzurizah Ibrahim
Publication Date
August 31, 2015
Submission Date
August 30, 2015
Acceptance Date
-
Published in Issue
Year 1970 Volume: 1 Number: 2
Cited By
Psychiatric Morbidity and Family Environment Among Female Juvenile Detainees in a Malaysian Sample
Journal of Child and Family Studies
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0487-5Why Can’t We Have Both? A Discussion on Work-Life Balance and Women Career Advancement in Malaysia
The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2018.vol5.no3.103Availability and utilisation of family-friendly work conditions for women in Malaysia: a review
International Journal of Social Economics
https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-02-2024-0103