KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 — The Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) reiterated its demands for Malaysia to move to a six-hour work day following the introduction of the policy in Sweden.

Local daily Harian Metro reported today MTUC president Mohd Khalid Atan as saying that the change in work hours was crucial for employee health in Malaysia.

“We urge the government to reduce the working hours to six hours as practiced in other developed nations. For example in Sweden which has enforced their working hours to six from eight previously,” Khalid was quoted saying in the report.

He also said the majority of workers in Malaysia work additional hours to gain more income, which would make their working hours go up to 12 a day.

In Sweden, companies ranging from startups to retirement homes have been experimenting with a six-hour work day policy in recent years.

However, recent reports say the majority of companies in the Scandinavian country are still practicing the typical 40-hour work week.