BATU PAHAT: The government is prepared to consider a proposal to shorten the noon meal break times for civil servants by 30 minutes during the Ramadan fasting month in June.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa said the proposal was made recently by some members of the public who felt that with a shorter lunch break, civil servants could then return home earlier from work to prepare for the breaking of the fast.
He was speaking to reporters after attending the presentation of excellent service awards at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia here today.
Ali said he would raise the matter with the Cabinet for a decision.
"We are open to proposals from the public," he added.
Ali said a shorter meal break during Ramadan would not jeopardise civil service operations.
On contract civil servants, Ali said the government had decided to absorb about 2,000 of these employees annually.
He said the decision was made last year by a special committee.
"The conditions for eligibility of absorption included 15 years of service, good work performance and favourable evaluation from the heads of department," he said.
The move was necessary to balance the public sector with new faces and experienced staff besides replacing retired personnel, he said.
He also said that annually 50,000 to 70,000 eligible Malaysians applied to fill 25,000 vacancies in the public sector. - BERNAMA