The Senate Secretariat has introduced a four-day physical workweek as part of its new measures to cut fuel use and reduce government spending.
Under the new arrangement, employees will work from the office from Monday to Thursday. Friday will be a work-from-home day when no Senate session is scheduled.
The Senate Secretariat said employees working from home on Fridays must remain available by phone, email and WhatsApp. They may also be asked to report to the office with one hour’s notice if needed.
Office hours from Monday to Thursday will be from 9am to 4pm.
The new measures also include a 50% cut in fuel allocations for official vehicles for three months. The Secretariat has also banned the purchase of new vehicles during the austerity period.
It will reduce the non-salary budget by 5% every month. The purchase of other items has also been restricted, although IT-related purchases will remain allowed.
The Senate has also placed restrictions on foreign visits for the next three months. Official dinners have been banned, except those organised for foreign delegations.
The Senate’s official website had earlier announced a four-day working week from Monday to Thursday under the federal government’s austerity and energy-conservation policy. Senate session days remain an exception to the arrangement.
The latest measures come as the government continues efforts to conserve fuel and control non-essential spending.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information had declared a notification circulating online about a wider four-day workweek fake. The Senate’s measures specifically apply to its Secretariat and allow employees to work from home on Fridays when no Senate session is scheduled.
