The Gambia has started a four-day week for public sector workers, with Fridays now an extra day off.

President Yahya Jammeh has said the shorter week will give The Gambia's mainly Muslim population more time to pray, socialise and tend to fields.

Mr Jammeh, who took power in a bloodless coup in 1994, is known for his eccentric behaviour.

Critics say his latest decision will promote laziness and disrupt the poor West African state's economy.

Agriculture, especially peanut exports, forms the backbone of The Gambia's economy.


Schools given choice

Most people in The Gambia, which has a population of about 1.8 million, are Muslims for whom Friday is a day of prayer.

Thursdays and Fridays or Fridays and Saturdays are non-working days in most of the Muslim world but some say this disrupts work with Western countries, who have Saturdays and Sundays off.

In a statement last month, Mr Jammeh's office said that from 1 February, the working times in the public sector would be Mondays to Thursdays from 08:00 to 18:00.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21280766

Cracking ... I am moving to Gambia

Hmmmmmm.......hope d one day off wouldn't encourage boko boko boiz der.

Cold faya: Hmmmmmm.......hope d one day off wouldn't encourage boko boko boiz der.

Dont think they have such fundamentalists there...wouldn't be bad if we had a three day weekend in Naija at all.

You wish!

Black_Oyinbo:

Dont think they have such fundamentalists there...wouldn't be bad if we had a three day weekend in Naija at all.

Hmmm... Wondering if this isn't just one populist move aimed at keeping himself in power. Old gee's been in power for 19 solid years.

Black_Oyinbo:

In a statement last month, Mr Jammeh's office said that from 1 February, the working times in the public sector would be Mondays to Thursdays from 08:00 to 18:00.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21280766

Considering that they will be working till 6pm each day, the holiday looks more like 4 hours.
But all the same, our leaders and their actions many times make me cringe.

bodejohn:

Considering that they will be working till 6pm each day, the holiday looks more like 4 hours.
But all the same, our leaders and their actions many times make me cringe.

Yea...They'll still be working 40hrs per week since their work time has been increased from 8hrs to 10hrs per day.

Here in Naija, some people even work till 7pm without the option to claim the days back or get paid for overtime.

Here in Naija, some people even work till 7pm without the option to claim the days back or get paid for overtime.

...and half of which are ghost workers.