He said the Cabinet meeting today also agreed to extend the special medical assignment leave and the tuberculosis, leprosy and cancer leave.

Khairy said the Cabinet on July 14 last year agreed to extend these benefits to officers who had their contracts extended after completing their housemanship.

“In line with the continuous efforts and our commitment to improve the welfare of contract officers, the health ministry at the Cabinet meeting today presented another memorandum for their consideration so that existing benefits are improved,” he said in a statement.

He hoped the decision to extend the leave benefits would address the imbalance among contract officers currently undergoing housemanship and those who have completed it.

Khairy said the memorandum was an effort by the ministry to improve and ensure a conducive workplace for all employees.