A Trade Official Considers Reducing Working Hours as Detrimental to the Economy

In response to the recent decision to close on Thursdays and reduce the working hours of government offices from 44 hours a week to 40 hours, a trade official deemed it an 'inappropriate decision.' According to the government news agency ILNA, Ghasem Noud Farahani, advisor to the government on trade affairs, stated that reducing working hours in the current economic conditions of the country is detrimental to the economy and emphasized the need for increased activity. He pointed out that with Thursday closures in most offices, work stoppages due to power outages in the summer, and winter closures due to severe cold, this decision is harmful to the economic situation. Farahani stressed that 'the country's economy is not in a position to reduce working hours.' He indicated that the country needs to increase productivity and that 'we must work harder to overcome economic problems.' In response to comparisons of this law with global standards, he noted that while two-day weekends are common in many countries, 'in other countries, daily working hours and productivity are high, but are we working with the same quality and efficiency?' The Islamic Consultative Assembly's approval of a new bill, which includes Thursday closures, has elicited mixed reactions from officials and economic experts. According to reports from state media, Abbas Goudarzi, spokesman for the Assembly's presiding board, previously stated that 'the recent decision does not mean an official closure on Thursdays, but rather a reduction in service days from six to five days a week.' He mentioned that 'only Friday is considered an official holiday in the country, and the reduction in working hours is solely for optimizing the performance of agencies and execution.' This spokesman also clarified that this law applies to all executive bodies except military, security, customs, and some service centers such as hospitals, banks, and sports facilities. One of the main questions regarding this bill is its impact on the private sector. Goudarzi explained that 'this reduction in working hours applies to all groups that were previously subject to 44 working hours per week according to various laws, including workers and employees in the private sector.' The aim of this plan is stated as 'increasing productivity, reducing energy consumption, and improving the quality of services' of government agencies; however, some observers believe it could lead to a deeper crisis. This is because, despite the closures of most countries on Saturdays and Sundays, commercial relations and banking exchanges with the world will be impossible for four days a week. If this bill is finalized, the working hours of government offices will be reduced, and Thursdays will be eliminated as a working day. While the Assembly emphasizes the legality and comprehensiveness of this plan, some economic experts and trade officials consider its implementation inappropriate under the current conditions of the country and believe that the country needs increased productivity and longer working hours for economic growth. Previously, the addition of Saturday as a weekend holiday in Iran was proposed but faced opposition from some government-affiliated entities that considered Saturday a holiday for Jews. The closure of Thursdays in Iran has tightened the small circle of international interactions.