Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is the latest in a long list of countries considering switching to a four-day working week and a three-day weekend system in the country, local media reported.
This came in response to an inquiry on Twitter, Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development clarified it is studying the possibility of extending the weekly leave for three days instead of two.
According to the Arabic daily Al Madina, the ministry is studying the current labour system through a periodic review to achieve an increase in job creation and raise the market’s attractiveness for local and international investments.
It also explained that the draft labour system was put forward in an investigative platform for public consultation.
Currently, the Kingdom applies a system of 5 working days and two days off per week, which is Friday and Saturday.
On February 17, 2022, the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources denied the plans to change the weekly working hours to four working days and three days weekends.
Saad Al Hammad, spokesperson for the ministry said in a statement, “There is no truth to what has been circulated in the media about the ministry’s intention to study the issue of reducing working days.”
It is noteworthy that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the first Gulf country to implement the 4-day work week system, while Bahrain and Oman are studying the implementation of the system.
