Gujarat Govt Reviews Work Hours; Employee Unions Push For 5-Day Week

After the reform commission’s recommendations were submitted, a meeting was held last Wednesday by Additional Chief Secretary of the General Administration Department, Kamal Dayani, Principal Secretary of the Administrative Reforms and Training Division (ARTD), Hareet Shukla, and other officials with representatives of various employee unions, associations, and federations. During the meeting, the officials sought agreement on the proposed change in office hours. The commission has recommended that all government offices operate from 9:30 AM to 5:10 PM.

Following the discussions on timing changes, union leaders raised several issues on behalf of employees. They reiterated the demand for a five-day workweek—Monday through Friday—for all state government offices, similar to central government offices. The unions also pointed out that after the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission, the government had assured that the second and fourth Saturdays would be holidays, with the first, third, and fifth Saturdays also being declared holidays. However, this assurance has not yet been fulfilled.

Vishnu Patel, President of the Gujarat State Employees Federation Coordination Committee, stated that a change in office timings had been implemented after the 6th Pay Commission’s recommendations were accepted. Now, with the 8th Pay Commission on the horizon, a fresh proposal for changing office hours has been put forward. The federation has long demanded a five-day workweek, which the government should consider.

Meanwhile, a senior official of the General Administration Department (GAD) confirmed that consultations with employee unions have been conducted. A committee formed by officials will soon submit its opinion on the five-day workweek demand to the government. It is likely that the office hours will be extended to 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM within the next two months.