Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) president Syed Hussain Syed Husman said the situation could have a negative impact on productivity if employees are unable to function optimally at work as a result of fatigue, stress, and other health problems linked to their weight.
He said a high proportion of overweight or obese workers would also increase companies’ medical expenses and could potentially affect the country’s competitiveness and its ability to attract foreign investment.
Pointing out that many companies lack the capacity to invest in employee health programmes, he urged the government to provide tax breaks or other financial incentives to help employers implement wellness initiatives.
“MEF proposes that the scope of incentives should not be limited to gym facilities alone, but expanded to include subsidies for health food, regular health screenings, and mental health support,” he said.
Last week, deputy human resource minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said that 59.2% of workers screened under a Perkeso health programme from 2023 to 2025 were found to be overweight or obese.
He said around 19% had diabetes, 17.45% suffered from high blood pressure, and 59.24% had high cholesterol, with most cases involving workers aged 40 to 59.
N Gopal Kishnam of the National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industry Workers said the failure of employers to safeguard workers’ welfare was the reason for the health crisis.
“The most basic issue among workers, including young people, is the lack of work-life balance,” he told FMT.
Gopal noted that the excess supply of labour, including foreign workers, is suppressing wages, resulting in many people having to work overtime or take a second or third job because their basic salaries cannot cover living expenses.
“The situation is worsened by employers’ reluctance to modernise equipment to avoid high costs,” Gopal, who is also the secretary-general of the Malaysian Federation of Trade Unions pro tem committee, said.
The trade federation was formed following the provisional dissolution of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress earlier this month.