JEDDAH — About 1.5 million Saudis working in the private sector are looking forward to the Cabinet's stamp of approval on the two-day weekend proposal that has brought down weekly working hours to 40, thus narrowing the difference of public-private sector working hours of 35 and 48. Nidal Ridwan, chairman of labor committee at Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), said the criteria for worker-productivity in advanced countries is 6 hours from 24 hours while in the Kingdom it would not exceed 4 hours. He believed that the move to reduce working hours to 40 per week and a two- day weekend would contribute to strengthening the national economy. "It's one of the best solutions to resolve the country's unemployment problem," Ridwan told Al-Madinah Arabic daily. "Long working hours is one of the reasons for young Saudis to abandon jobs in the private sector," the official pointed out. He also referred to the negative effects of long working hours as it affects family relations and education of children, especially when women go to work. "Long working hours will reduce job opportunities of women and increase work-related diseases such as high blood pressure. It will also reduce productivity," he explained. Ridwan said long working hours prevent employees from completing their personal and family-related works at government departments in the absence of a good public transport system, which would have helped other members of the family to do such works on their behalf. He said the new system would encourage many Saudis to work in the private sector, which was hitherto abandoned by most Saudi workers. "The private sector will become the first choice for Saudis. It will also encourage them to continue in the same company," he added. Ridwan said the two-day weekend would reduce electricity and fuel consumption and cut down operational cost of companies. "It will help employees get enough rest to work in the next five days with greater enthusiasm. It will encourage Saudis to visit their families in remote villages, thus helping boost business," he explained. Referring to other benefits of the new work system, Ridwan said it would encourage expatriate workers, especially those living with families, to spend a substantial portion of their salary in the Kingdom and cut short their home remittance. It will also promote capacity building of foreign workers to make greater contribution to the Kingdom's development. Dr. Samir Hussein, chairman of the manpower committee at JCCI, said the Kingdom's Labor Law has not fixed working hours. However, it has mentioned the maximum weekly working hours at 48. "Once the 40-hour work week is approved by the Cabinet, then employers have to think of new ways to increase productivity as they believe that long working hours are required to increase sales and profits," he said. The productivity of Saudis would not exceed 4 hours compared to others, he said. The system will help uncover illegal cover-up business in the private sector, especially in small and medium enterprises, he added. Lawyer Khaled Aburashid said the expected Cabinet decision reducing working hours to 40 in the private sector and endorsing two-day weekend would lead to another amendment to the Labor Law. He also believed it would encourage Saudis to work in the private sector.
