Govt announces five-day workweek to reduce petroleum consumption

KATHMANDU: The government has announced a five-day workweek for public offices and educational institutions, citing disruptions in petroleum supply linked to the ongoing West Asia crisis.

A Cabinet meeting held on Sunday decided that government offices will now operate from 9 am, one hour earlier than the regular time of 10 am, to 5 pm. Schools, however, will operate on the regular working hours of 10 am to 9 pm.

“Office hours for specified institutions have been set from 9 am to 5 pm,” he said. “The cabinet has also decided to implement a two-day weekly holiday on Saturdays and Sundays for both government offices and educational institutions. The new arrangement will come into effect from Monday.”

The government took the new measures to manage the consumption of petrol products.

Nepal is fully dependent on India for petroleum products. It imports petrol, diesel, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and aviation turbine fuel from the Indian government undertaking Indian Oil Corporation.