In some good news for its 17 lakh employees, the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra Government on Wednesday announced a five-day week for its offices across the State from February 29.
Following the suit of the Union Government and the State Governments of Rajasthan, Bihar, Punjab, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, the Maharashtra Government increased the daily work-time of its employees by 45 minutes, as part of its decision to go in for a five-day week for its employees in the State.
After considering a long-pending demand for reducing the number of working days in a week made by the unions representing the Government employees for several years now, the State Cabinet—at a weekly meeting presided over by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray – approved the five-day week proposal.
Under the proposal, the employees working in government offices in Greater Mumbai would henceforth work between 9.45 am and 6.15 pm instead of the earlier duty hours from 9.45 am to 5.30 pm. In Government offices outside Mumbai, the Government employees will henceforth work from 9.45 am to 6.15 pm instead of the earlier work timing of 10 am to 5.45 pm.
Till now, the State Government offices used to remain closed on second and fourth Saturdays.
“The five-day week system is not applicable to employees working essential services like Fire Brigade, Government colleges, engineering colleges, polytechnics, schools, police stations and departments engaged in sanitary services,” an official statement said.
According to the official statement, the total number of working days — which on an average work out to 288 days in a year — will come down 264 days in a year, because of the five-day week announced by the State Government. However, the working hours in a year would increase from the current 2088 hours to 2112 hours.