New Wage Code: Will central government employees get 4-day work week?

As the Modi government prepares to implement the New-Wage Code, there have been reports that the government is also planning to implement a 4-day work week system for government offices. The Centre, on the other hand, has stated its position unequivocally. In the Lok Sabha, Union Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar denied any such move by the government.

This means that central government offices will only be open four days a week, giving employees more flexibility. According to reports, the government may include this work system in the New Wage Code.

Earlier in February, Apurva Chandra, a senior IAS officer and Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, said that the government is considering trade unions' objections to a 12-hour daily work shift. Chandra stated. "As you can see, there will be a maximum of 48 hours of work per week. If someone works 8 hours a day, there are 6 working days in a week. If a company chooses 12-hour workdays for its employees, it means four days of work and three days off ".

According to the Union Labour Minister, there is no plan to implement a four-day work week for central government offices. "At the moment, there is no such proposal to implement four days a week or 40 hours a week for Central Government officials," he explained.

In his written response to the House, he also stated that the respective Central Pay Commissions recommend working days, holidays, and working hours. "It is informed that the working days/holidays/working hours in Central Government of India administrative offices are recommended by the respective Central Pay Commissions. According to the fourth pay commission's recommendation, civil administrative offices of the Government of India now work five days a week for eight and a half hours per day "He stated.

According to Gangwar, the 7th Central Pay Commission has recommended that the status quo be maintained. The Centre had previously implemented a five-day workweek based on the recommendations of the fourth pay commission. The primary goal was to provide employees with more leisure time, which leads to a better work-life balance and increases their efficiency.