• NLAC receives requests
• Labour Dept to consider on case-by-case basis
• No final decision on work-from-home 

The National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) has received requests from parties to introduce a four-day work week, Labour Ministry Secretary S M  Piyatissa told The Daily Morning. According to him, the NLAC has been asked to permit the four-day work week model, and the Labour Department has been advised to consider these requests on a case-by-case basis before determining the next steps.

However, he added that no final decisions had been made regarding the reintroduction of work from home arrangements at the time of the Ministry’s contact with the Labour Department. His remarks came in response to a question about whether work from home would be brought back as a measure to conserve fuel and energy. On social media platforms, claims have been circulating about a possible return to work from home. Unofficial reports also suggest that, in an effort to mitigate the economic risks stemming from the Rupee’s depreciation against the United States Dollar and rising import bills, the Government is considering reintroducing work from home for both public and private sector employees –  similar to the approach taken during the Covid pandemic. It had been predicted that such an announcement would be made today (26).

The work from home strategy is widely seen being implemented in countries including India as a means of conserving energy to mitigate future scenarios where citizens could face energy shortages due to global tensions limiting access to resources. In Sri Lanka also, the module was introduced in a couple of instances including the pandemic season.

Attempts to contact the Secretary of the Public Administration Ministry Sumana Aloka Bandara proved futile.