Four-day work week for public sector employees

The Cabinet has approved a proposal to declare Friday as a holiday for public sector employees from this week. 

However, the four-day work week will not apply to workers in the essential services including electricity and water supply, defence, transport, port and aviation services, education and health. 

The proposal was presented by Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs and Provincial Councils Dinesh Gunawardena. 

The decision to give public sector workers a holiday on Friday was taken due to the prevailing fuel shortage which had made it difficult for public sector workers, especially those reporting to far away places, to come to work, Minister Gunawardena told Times Online. 

The Government is also hoping that the public sector workers who are given the holiday will be able to help in the agriculture drive in the locality where they reside. This is with the aim of countering an expected food shortage. This arrangement will be implemented through the local Divisional Secretariats, the minister added. 

The Friday holiday for public sector workers will be in effect for the next three months.