KUWAIT CITY, July 23: Many citizens and expatriates have welcomed with pleasure a recent proposition by MP Ahmed Lari to reduce the working hours for employees and to increase the weekends from two days to three days due to the current harsh weather, reports Al-Rai daily.

In this context, Deputy Director of Civil Service Commission (CSC) Muhammad Al-Roumi disclosed that the sector has yet to receive any report about the aforementioned proposal. However, the sector will conduct relevant study to weigh up cost and output if the proposal is received, he stressed.

In spite of justifying the proposal on the recent high temperature, which sometimes exceeds 60 degrees Celsius, to implement the plan in July and August, some details must be considered carefully, he noted.

Meanwhile, economy experts have said an additional weekend will cost the nation KD 140 million, indicating a day’s income is worth KD 140.5 million according to a report issued by the Central Bank in 2012.

They expected the nation will lose KD 1.12 billion ($3.68 billion) if an additional weekend is approved for July and August. They reiterated that government has taken necessary action to reduce budget deficit, which requires the state to improve its income.

They are of the view that the proposal encourages laziness, indicating employees in Japan works 60 hours per week while most Kuwaiti employees sit in their offices for barely three hours per day. They reiterated the idea will adversely affect political, economic and social life if implemented.