The Ministry of Labor is currently considering a two-day weekly holiday for the private sector starting the beginning of next year, Dammam-based Arabic daily Al-Sharq reported Monday quoting a source at the ministry.
He said the ministry is considering the idea with the chambers of commerce, the Supreme Economic Council and a number of businessmen and traders.
The unidentified source said the study would be completed within six months and added that about 80 percent of the private companies and establishments have agreed to the proposal.
He said some private establishments requested to make the daily working hours nine instead of the present eight to agree to the weekly two days off.
The source did not expect the private sector companies to incur any financial loss due to the two days off and said it could be granted in succession like the government on Thursdays and Fridays or given separately during the week according to the situation of each company.
The ministry is considering feminizing a number of its leading positions, which have so far been confined to men only.
Quoting informed sources, local daily Al-Watan said Monday that the ministry was restructuring to place qualified women at the top of a number of its offices. The ministry has 23 offices in 13 administrative regions.
2-day weekend for private sector eyed
