The South Asian country, which is struggling with shortages amid its worst economic crisis in decades, announced on Tuesday that public sector workers would be allowed Fridays for the next three months, without pay cuts, to be given time to grow their own crops. “It seems appropriate to give government officials a working day off to engage in agricultural activities in their backyards or elsewhere as a solution to the expected shortage of food,” the Ministry of Government Information said on Tuesday. He said the shorter week would also benefit workers affected by power outages and power outages caused by food and gas shortages. It is estimated that there are up to 1 million public sector employees in the country. However, the four-day period will not apply to “basic services” staff working in hospitals and ports or to those in the energy and water sectors. The government, which is in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over a bailout package this month, is also willing to encourage people to get jobs abroad so they can send money back. He said public sector workers would receive unpaid leave for up to five years “subject to” if they decided to work abroad.
Chaos and uncertainty
The island nation with a population of 22 million is in the midst of the worst economic and political crisis in decades. Public outrage erupted in April when demonstrations turned violent and upset the government. Several government officials, including the prime minister, have resigned. For many Sri Lankans, daily life has become an endless cycle of chaos and uncertainty since the crisis began. Long queues for basic supplies such as food and gas are forming daily across the country, and many stores have been forced to close because refrigerators, air conditioners or fans can no longer operate. Soldiers often park at gas stations to calm frustrated customers who line up for hours in the heat to fill their tanks. Some customers reportedly died while waiting. Government critics have questioned how much difference the four-day week will make, saying that while government officials usually live far from Colombo, most use public transportation to get around. They also say that most of them are relatively poor and do not own their land, so it is unlikely that they will grow their own food.
