Jordan weighs three-day weekend for public sector workers

The Jordanian government is looking at the possibility of extending weekends to three days, particularly in the public sector, as part of broader efforts to improve productivity, reduce traffic congestion, and cut transportation costs.

Under the proposals currently under review, the weekend could run from Friday to Sunday, replacing the existing two-day break on Friday and Saturday.

Another option would be to maintain the current weekend but introduce flexible or hybrid working arrangements, allowing some employees to split their time between remote work and office attendance.

According to the head of the Civil Service Commission, Fayez Al-Nahar, officials are evaluating several scenarios, including keeping the current two-day weekend, adopting a three-day weekend with longer daily working hours to compensate for the additional day off, or implementing a hybrid system in which some employees work five days a week while others work four.

Al-Nahar said the studies aim to determine which model would best suit Jordan's economic conditions and whether changes to the workweek could improve public sector performance while easing congestion and lowering operational costs.

The Civil Service Commission has also launched a survey to gauge public sector employees' views on official working days.

One proposal under assessment would introduce a four-day workweek of eight hours and 45 minutes per day, an increase of one hour and 45 minutes compared with current daily hours, to make up for the additional day off.

The survey follows directives from Prime Minister Jafar Hassan as part of efforts to modernise the working environment and enhance the efficiency of public administration.

However, Al-Nahar noted that the survey was only one element in the decision-making process, with authorities working toward a comprehensive and practical framework before adopting any changes.

The proposal has sparked debate, with some business owners warning that a three-day weekend could harm economic activity and place additional pressure on productive and service sectors.

Economic expert Hossam Ayesh believes the idea requires thorough study and broad consultation, including analysis of countries that have adopted a three-day weekend and an assessment of its impact under conditions similar to Jordan’s economic and social structure.