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New office hours from Aug.

* Different opening and closing times for the two sectors

1 July 2020 05:02 am - 17     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The government has decided to change the working hours of the public and private sector employees based on convenience, traffic congestion and productivity, Power, Energy and Transport Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said yesterday.

He said a consultative committee headed by Transport Ministry Additional Secretary Tilakaratne Bandara was appointed to study this matter and submit recommendations and the report handed over to the minister by Transport Ministry Secretary Gamini Seneviratne.

The report recommends that public sector offices be opened at 9.00 a.m. and close at 4.45 p.m. with the private sector offices to be opened at 9.45 a.m. and to close at 6.45 p.m.

“President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has already approved the change in the public sector office hours. The sole purpose of the new arrangement is to save fuel, reduce environment pollution and avoid traffic congestion," the minister said.

He said Rs.1 billion worth of fuel is wasted daily because of traffic congestion and pointed out that the new office hours would be introduced in August upon Cabinet approval.

The minister said his ministry wouldl discuss the matter with all stakeholders such as Public Administration and other relevant ministries and the private sector prior to finalising the changes to the office hours.

"Employees of both sectors will be provided public transport facilities until the last employee reaches home safely after the new system is introduced,” he said and added that school vans and buses would be off the roads by the time public and private sector establishments open and therefore it will contribute to easing traffic congestion.

The minister said trains, private and SLTB buses will be permitted only to carry passengers up to its seating capacity and those violating this regulation will be dealt under the regulations of the National Transport Commission. (Sandun A Jayasekera)


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  Comments - 17

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  • Sambo Wednesday, 01 July 2020 08:11 AM

    So will you be supplying trains also at different times for state and public sector to travel to work. If not there is no point in any further talk.

    Sunil Wednesday, 01 July 2020 08:21 AM

    Private sector working hours is not healthy. It is better to do a survey and decide on the working hours. 'Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise'.

    Max Wednesday, 01 July 2020 08:32 AM

    Nine hours shift. Will the company owners pay extra ??

    BuffaloaCitizen Wednesday, 01 July 2020 08:38 AM

    New times for Public sector offices will never change the irresponsibility and inefficiencies notorious in them. 99% of the work force consists of incompetent henchies of political parties and that needs to change.

    BigEars Wednesday, 01 July 2020 08:51 AM

    For the public service make it 00:00 to 00:00.

    Lal Wednesday, 01 July 2020 09:36 AM

    What about the School opening times. Many parents drop their children in school and go to office. Specially the parents working in the Private Sector will be greatly inconvenienced due to the new work hours.

    Jay Jay Wednesday, 01 July 2020 09:37 AM

    @Max... employees are contracted to work 45 hrs per week. So do the math. 9hrs per day means only 5 days of work. Therefore no need to come to office for half day on Saturday. @Max.. know your facts b4 speaking.. or typing in this case.

    Rishan Wednesday, 01 July 2020 09:45 AM

    How about if we have LRT for the main roads . Fort Negombo , Fort Gampaha , Fort Homagama , Fort Horana , Fort Kalutara , Fort Hanwella . This way we can reduce the traffic by minimising private vehicles entering the Colombo city . Just have a survey how many private cars versus buses enters via main entry points to colombo . You will see 20:1 ( Private vehicles : Bus ) or more ....

    PVR Wednesday, 01 July 2020 09:55 AM

    7 hrs and 45 min for government sector and 9 hrs for private sector. Why is that? PV

    Nashath Wednesday, 01 July 2020 10:06 AM

    Private sector timings are not healthy - as i see a private sector employer will be spending all day in the office where he will not have enough time to spend his own time. starting at 8 and closing by 5 pm at lease we have small window to breath with family . having working till 6.45 and get back home by 7.30 0r 8 pm will create un healthy life style/mental health

    Thilina Wednesday, 01 July 2020 05:38 PM

    Always extra benefit for non profitable public sector. Very sad

    Office worker Wednesday, 01 July 2020 06:50 PM

    When can the office worker do the marketing and shopping before reaching home ? In most cases the husband and wife work in different institutions and carry Kottu Rotti for their dinner.

    Mohamed Hadi Wednesday, 01 July 2020 07:21 PM

    No quality of life for private sector and it will be more fuel consumption for private sector working parents who drop their kids to school. Instead of changing time, it is good to promote working from home for both sectors. This will save lot of fuel, power and congested.

    Shelly Wednesday, 01 July 2020 07:41 PM

    First think of the public transport system, then change the working hours

    Buddhist Wednesday, 01 July 2020 08:14 PM

    If this has to be successful all truck transportation should stop from 8.30 am to 9.30 am and then 5.30 pm to 7 pm. Also all trucks, buses, vans and 3 wheelers should be made by law to have a speed control unit installed in their vehicles. Otherwise this will be useless.

    Dilusha Dilumini Fonseka Wednesday, 01 July 2020 09:30 PM

    Private sector working hours are not practical and healthy as well. Not every private sector workers have their own transportation and some companies are not providing transport for working till late. At the time we finished the work and leave office it takes more than one hour to reach home. No time to private life. All most every private companies operates on Saturdays as well and some are on mercantile holidays as well.

    C Thursday, 02 July 2020 08:09 AM

    Extremely retarded. What about people commuting from far? Also, you are robbing people off their quality of life...


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