Extended workweek not a wise decision of PML-N govt: News360 survey

ISLAMABAD: A News360 survey found that the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government’s decision for an extended workweek was not a wise decision in the favour of the economy and inflation-hit nationals.

The government and bank employees have strongly protested against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s decision for the six-day workweek. The employees said that they were continuously working for five days a week which is 40 hours, but they will face trouble working for one more day.

They said that when the country was facing a power crisis and high petroleum prices, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) approved a decision on a trial basis to reduce working days to five for cutting the cost of transport, office preparations and other administrative expenditures.

Some employees said that their transport expenses will be increased by Rs1,200 to Rs1,500 on a monthly basis after joining the offices on Saturdays.

Six days working week and revised timings

A principal of the government school said that his school is 40 kilometres away from his residence, therefore, he has to travel at least 80 km every day. He told News360 that his daily transport expenditures are Rs1,200, whereas, additional duty hours will increase the monthly expense from Rs4,800 to Rs5,000.

A lecturer who travels daily from Rawalpindi to Murree said that she had some facilities due to two days off in a week as she got some leisure time for her family and children on Saturdays. She said that the monthly transport cost would increase by Rs3,000 after a six-day workweek.

A banker said that he used to spend Rs300 daily on his dressing, Rs600 for his arrival at the branch and Rs400 on lunch. The expenditures will be increased by Rs1,300 for transport, laundry and food, whereas, the monthly expense will be hiked to Rs4,000.

The principal of a government higher secondary school told News360 that his school has more than 10 buses whose daily fuel expense is Rs20,000. After a six-day workweek, the expenses will be increased by Rs80,000 to Rs100,000 per month.

PM Sharif extends workweek of govt employees contrary to global trends

According to the economic expert, Muzammil Aslam said that the world is now adopting smart work and reducing its office expenditure by using modern technologies. Instead of taking steps for smart work, the working days are being increased from five to six days a week which will increase the office expenses.

He said the decision would increase electricity consumption in government offices, banks and schools, and increase petrol and fuel costs. The government should focus on improving the efficiency of the government employees instead of increasing the working days.

Outside the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), a female consumer said that for the last four months, she has been visiting offices to transfer the records of the electricity meter of her newly- purchased house. She said that the IESCO staffers have not completed their work since four months and she lost hopes that it will be done in the coming days.

She said that those staffers would not work efficiently who don’t want to work. There is a need to address the problems and grievances of the people instead of being stuck into deciding on five or s working days.