Five-day week for state employees(Indian Express)

Mains Paper 4:Ethics
Prelims level:Not much
Mains level: Initiatives taken towards improvingwork culture in government organisations

Context:

• The Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) government in Sikkim has withdrawn its decision to have a five-day week for staff government and public sector unit employees.
• Chief Secretary S C Gupta has said that with effect from April 1, 2020, only the second and fourth Saturdays of every month will be a holiday, apart from Sundays.

When and why did Sikkim start having five-day weeks?

• The government’s notification modifies its earlier notification of May 28, 2019, which was issued the day after Chief Minister Golay was sworn in, marking the end of the nearly 25-year rule of his predecessor, Pawan Kumar Chamling.
• Golay had described the decision ..........................................

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But isn’t a five-day week the general direction in which progressive societies are moving?

• Nearly all of the advanced Western world, as well as countries like China, Russia, Brazil, and South Africa, do indeed, work Monday-Friday in the normal course.
• In India, the Maharashtra government recently announced a Monday-Friday week, while increasing the daily working hours by 45 minutes to make up for the loss of work time.
• Several other states already follow a five-day week, while others give employees a holiday on every second and fourth Saturday of each month.

How exactly does an extra holiday every week help?

• The idea of a five-day week follows research that appears to show that a shorter workweek enhances efficiency and productivity of employees in the long run by reducing stress and improving their physical and mental well being.
• It also helps cut costs for governments ..................................................

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Conclusion:

• Many progressive observers now feel that even a five-day week is unnecessary and possibly counter-productive, and that a four- or even three-day week would be a better alternative keeping concerns of work-life balance, employee health, and climate change in mind.
• However, no two situations and economies are identical, and national policymakers all over the world make decisions based on their assessments of what is the best for their people and situation.

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  General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the direct listing of Indian companies overseas, consider the following statements:
1. Currently all Indian companies can do direct listing on stock exchanges in foreign jurisdictions.
2. A depository receipt is a foreign currency denominated instrument, listed on an international exchange, issued by a foreign depository to a domestic custodian and includes GDRs.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: B

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Mains Questions:
Q.1)Why Sikkim has dropped its five-day week for state employees?How exactly does an extra holiday every week help?