Pakistan and the Philippines announce a four-day work week. Here’s why | World news

Impact on schools

The country also announced online classes for all higher education institutions from March 16 to 31; a two-week break for all schools starting March 16-31

Impact on wages

Federal and provincial cabinet members will not receive salaries or benefits for the next two months. Salaries of members of the federal and provincial legislatures will take a 25 per cent cut for two months. BS-20 government officials, in federal and provincial government establishments, who earn Rs 300,000 or more, may have to give up two days’ salary; However, officials who provide services in the health and education sectors are exempt.

Impact on costs of government offices

Pakistan also announced a 20 percent cut in non-employee expenses for the fourth quarter for all federal and provincial government institutions. Ministers, advisers and government officials are prohibited from traveling abroad unless they are “essential to the interests of the country.” Preference will be given to teleconferencing and online meetings, while seminars and conferences will be held in government facilities instead of hotels. Official dinners and Iftar parties have also been banned.

What is happening in the Philippines?

In the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos on Friday announced the shortened workweek structure for government positions starting Monday. Soon after, private companies were also asked to try the same. Philippine Senator Francis Escudero endorsed the decision after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inducted her into government positions on Monday.

However, frontline services, police and fire services are exempt from the reduced working week.

Marcos also ordered all government agencies to reduce their fuel and energy consumption by 10 to 20 percent, and banned government study tours and team-building activities.

Why have Pakistan and the Philippines adopted a four-day work week?

The Persian Gulf is the most important source of oil and gas for several countries. Therefore, the war, which involved Israeli attacks on at least 30 Iranian oil deposits and resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has heavily impacted energy supplies around the world.

The Iranian military has announced that ships must stay away from the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, cross-strait shipping has more or less stopped and supplies are currently not leaving the Gulf, sending oil prices soaring. The four-day work week aims to alleviate the impact of the oil price shock with less travel, lower costs and less traffic, resulting in lower fuel consumption.

In Pakistan, the move came after the government faced considerable criticism from its allies, the opposition and citizens for increasing petrol and diesel prices by up to Rs 55.

Pakistan depends on oil and gas supplied by the Gulf. “Considering this reality, the government took difficult decisions for the country’s economy,” said Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He urged people to recognize that global oil price fluctuations were not in the hands of Pakistan. “When conflict arises or war breaks out in the region, the effects are felt in energy prices,” he said. He assured the nation that the government was making every effort to ensure that the economy is stable.

The Philippines also imports most of its crude oil from the Middle East. The oil-poor country still relies on oil-fired power plants to produce electricity.