Several businessmen have opposed the move to reduce weekly working hours in the private sector from 48 to 40 hours, saying it would have a negative impact on the economy. They said the move would increase the sector’s economic burden by 33 percent.

Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid, president of the Asharqia Chamber, proposed reducing weekly working hours from 48 to 45 hours instead of 40. He also called for a study to assess the economic impact of reducing working hours to 40 hours a week.

Al-Rashid’s statement comes at a time when the Shoura Council has decided to review its previous resolution approving a 40-hour, two-day weekend.

Some GCC countries, which have adopted the two-day weekend, are still sticking to 48 hours distributed throughout the whole week. Eight million foreign workers are currently employed by the private sector.

“Things should not be considered in haste,” Al-Rashid said, refuting findings that long working hours is the main factor that discourages Saudis from working in the private sector. “I can tell you that many Saudis are now working in companies that follow the 48-hour system.”

In developed countries, an increase or decrease in working hours is based on a number of criteria, including efficiency, productivity and cost-effectiveness, said Al-Rashid, who is a Shoura member.

Abdul Rahman Al-Zamil, president of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said a 40-hour workweek would have a negative impact on the economy and diminish the private sector’s achievements.

“It will harm contractors, as well as operation and maintenance firms,” Al-Zamil said.

The Kingdom’s private sector, with the current 48-hour system, faces fierce competition from neighboring countries in terms of gains and products, Al-Zamil said.

“Things will become worse if we reduce working hours to 40.”

If the Cabinet approves the proposed 40-hour, two-day weekend, businesses have to reconsider work contracts signed with their employees, as the present contracts are based on a 48-hour system, Al-Zamil said.

He suggested that maintenance contractors be exempted from the 40-hour working system to avoid a 20-percent loss of production until the expiry of their current contracts.

He accused some Shoura members of deliberating the issue too hastily. “They believe that an amendment of the system will make them more popular.”

Many Saudis have welcomed the 40-hour two-day weekend. “Of course, having an extra day off is something most employees would like,” Faris Al-Turki, a columnist and a restaurant owner, told Arab News.

However, he pointed out that it would not attract more Saudis to the private sector as generally believed. “From my own experience in recruiting Saudis, I don’t think it’s going to make the private sector more attractive to them. This is not the issue for them in the first place.”

Al-Turki emphasized the need to make the private sector more attractive by enhancing its environment, making it more challenging and rewarding. “We need to focus on improving the commitment of the Saudis, especially at the start of their careers,” he added.

“Giving an extra day off is going to send a message for them to relax and ask for more, while we are trying to increase their level of commitment and productivity to be competitive in the labor market,” Al-Turki said.

Omaima Said, manager of a private company, stressed the need to provide more incentives like two-day weekends to attract more Saudis to the private sector.

“Government employees are getting a lot of benefits including two-day weekend and royal bonuses but workers in the private sector do not enjoy these benefits,” she pointed out. She stressed the need to develop the private sector to deal with the 40-hour system.

Restaurant manager Abdullah Malik said the two-day weekend would enhance the social life of employees and make them more relaxed and productive. “It is impossible for an employee to have enough time to spend with his family under the one-day weekend system.”

Saleswoman Fareeda Wali thinks the move to abort the two-day weekend would harm her family life. “If the Shoura and Cabinet refuse to endorse two-day weekend, I might quit my job because my husband and children will never allow me to spend that much time working away from home,” she told Arab News.

“This is inhumane and no one can put in that many working hours . We are not machines and we need to relax and have time for our families,” she added.