WORKING WOMEN'S PERCEPTION OF DIFFERENCES IN THE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT BEFORE AND AFTER THE MOVEMENT CONTROL ORDER (MCO): A CASE STUDY IN SABAH AND SARAWAK

Abstract

The Movement Control Order (MCO) was first introduced by the Malaysian government on 18 March 2020. This effort was made to contain the Covid-19 pandemic which has had a major impact not only on human health, but also in the employment sector. Despite the implementation of the MCO, the community as a whole experienced changes in various matters related to their daily lives, especially among working women. This involves changes in terms of the work environment. However, information related to the difference in the workplace environment before and after the MCO is still lacking in scientific explanation. Accordingly, by applying a mixed-method approach, a study of working women's perception of the difference in the workplace environment before and after the MCO in Sabah and Sarawak was conducted. In general, this study found that the majority of respondents agreed that the working atmosphere before and after the MCO was different. It is hoped that the results of this study provide important information regarding changes in the workplace environment for stakeholders for the purpose of improving various matters related to the workplace environment.