Hyderabad: Telangana government employees have revived their demand for a five-day work week following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to citizens for austerity measures, including saving fuel and electricity.
JAC writes to chief secretary
The joint action committee (JAC) of state government employees has written to Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao, urging him to take a favourable decision to implement a five-day work week on the lines of central government departments and institutions. The JAC said this would help the Telangana government save power, reduce vehicle pollution, and enhance employee efficiency. Even the IT industry works five days a week, the JAC pointed out.
Details of the proposal
The committee wrote that central and state governments are taking steps to reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and promote greater use of sustainable public transport. “In this context, we request the government for implementation of a five-day work week with timings from 10am to 6pm (40 hours a week), instead of the current six working days with timings from 10.30am to 5pm (39 hours a week),” the JAC stated.
“With this proposal, there will be no burden on the exchequer, and it will benefit the state government,” JAC secretary general Eluri Sreenivasa Rao told TOI. The JAC urged the chief secretary to inform Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy about their demand.
Potential benefits
Employees believe that a five-day work week would lead to significant savings in electricity and fuel costs for the government. Additionally, it would reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions, contributing to a cleaner environment. The JAC also argued that employee productivity and morale would improve with a better work-life balance.
The demand comes at a time when the state is exploring various austerity measures to optimize resources. The government has not yet responded to the proposal, but the JAC remains hopeful for a positive decision.
