Two-day off a week begins

Kathmandu, May 14

The two-day off a week (Saturday and Sunday) will begin as a trial from May 15, Sunday.

Citing the excessive rise in the price of fossil fuel in the international markets and its impacts on foreign currency reserves, the government has decided to take two days off a week as an alternative to reduce fuel consumption.

Apart from this, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had been suggesting that if there was a two-day holiday in a week, domestic tourism would be promoted as well.

Though there are holidays on Saturdays and Sundays, the office hours of weekdays will be from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. The government has informed this by publishing an information in Nepal Gazettee.

The office hours during the winter (from November 2 to January 29) will be from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm.

The two-day weekend system will make some changes in the daily life of the employees and service recipients working in all the offices. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Basanta Adhikari, said that the staffs should reach the office by 9.30 am and work till 5.30 pm.

“All the employees and agencies should be responsible to achieve the objectives of the newly implemented system," he said and added that special attention should be paid to the staff's behavior, office procedures, canteen and other facilities in the office.

He said that the services required by the recipients should not be disrupted due to the two-day leave, the essential services should be streamlined, and public transport and distribution of passes for the government vehicles should be tightened.

Earlier, the government had implemented the practice of two days off a week for some time three and two decades ago. The government withdrew the decision following the growing complaint of difficulties in service delivery.

Kashiraj Dahal, an administration expert, said that the government is giving leave for two days a week to promote domestic tourism, be frugal in outdoor activities and maintain balance between business and family life of the employees.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 15 May 2022.