The proposal to introduce a five-day work week in government offices in Kerala has gained momentum yet again with the Chief Secretary calling an online meeting of all recognised service organisations on Friday (February 6, 2026) to discuss the same.
The meeting, which had earlier been scheduled to be held December, 2025 , had been postponed.
While the State government is mulling the implementation of a five-day work week, last week saw disruption in banking services in public sector banks across the country as trade unions in the banking sector went on a nationwide strike demanding the implementation of a five-day work week.
Various service organisations of government employees have been reacting cautiously to the government’s proposal that government offices adopt the five-day work week.
Most service organisations are not really opposed to the idea, the general feeling being that a five-day work week would enable employees to spend more time with their families and take care of other personal affairs. This would result in reduced workplace stress and improved quality in service delivery
However, they have reserved their reactions in apprehension that the new work pattern would eventually affect their current entitlements, including the number of public holidays, the leave they are entitled to.
Moved welcomed
Meanwhile, the Joint Council of State Service Organisations, which is pro-Communist Party of India, has welcomed the government’s proposal to reduce the number of working days per week in government offices to five.
In a statement issued in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday (February 5, 2026), the general secretary of the council K.P. Gopakumar said that as the government has not yet issued any specific directives in this regard, the Joint Council will make a formal response only after examining the government’s proposals. The Joint Council had earlier submitted detailed representations to both the Administrative Reforms Commission and the government regarding the adoption of a five-day work week in government offices.
Union government institutions functioning in Kerala are already following the five-day work week system and there is no harm in it being adopted in State government institutions as well, the council feels. It reckons that the reduction in working hours per week can be effectively compensated by extending working hours in the mornings and evenings on other days.
The five-day work week proposal had come up for discussion during the time of the Oommen Chandy government also. The 11th Pay Revision Commission (2021) too had suggested a five-day work week, alongside increasing the daily working hours from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. to 9.30 a.m.-5:.0 p.m.
Though the Public Administration department has now revived the discussions, the government has not put forth any specific recommendations. Instead it asked the service organisations to come up with its suggestions.
From the government’s perspective, the five-day work week would result in huge savings as far as overhead expenses— water, electricity and travel allowances—are concerned.
The Joint Council points out that as most of the government offices are now e-offices, delivering almost all services online are possible. Hence the public are unlikely to face any hurdles in accessing essential services if the five-day work week pattern is to be implemented, it says.
Published – February 05, 2026 05:45 pm IST
