day weekly holiday increases an employee's productivity and work quality by as much as 30 percent when compared to those who have only one day off every week, Al-Hayat newspaper reported Thursday. “An employee who does not get the rest needed, which is determined by some international studies at 48 hours every week, tends to be nervous and anxious because of six consecutive days of work pressure, and this is reflected in his performance and quality of work,” they said. Hattab Al-Enizi, Spokesman for the Ministry of Labor, said Saudi regulations stipulate a maximum of 48 hours of work per week, but regulations do not dictate the number of day offs per week. It is up to the employers in the private sector to decide that. “Regulations give private sector companies and organizations the freedom to determine weekly holiday,” he said. “It is a bylaw for companies and the ministry has nothing to do with it.” Dr. Turad Al-Amri, Executive Director of Assawada (Saudization) Home, who is also a Human Resources specialist, agreed that a two-day weekly holiday increases employees' productivity. “Humanitarian and psychological aspects in the life of an employee must be taken into consideration by the employer. An employee has a family at home. Giving him 48 hours of rest every week allows him to spend time with his family, and consequently it makes him more comfortable and relaxed when he returns to work,” Al-Amri said. He said some studies in Europe are now demanding a three-day weekly holiday to improve the quality of workers' performance in the remaining four days. Moreover, more holidays mean more scope for domestic tourism, he added.
