位于西非的岡比亞共和國從2月1日起實行每周四天工作制，所有公共事務部門每周一至周四早8點至晚6點辦公，學校可自由選擇在周六或周日補一天課，私營部門則不受此限。岡比亞共和國總統表示，縮短工作時間是為了讓大家有更多的時間禮拜祈禱、進行社交活動，以及在田間耕作。批評人士則認為此舉會助長人們的懶惰習性，讓本已落后的經濟狀況雪上加霜。岡比亞共和國總人口約180萬，大部分為穆斯林。花生出口是該國的主要經濟支柱，因其海灘眾多，也是熱門旅游勝地。

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

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, socialize and tend to fields.

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.

It is also a popular tourist destination, because of its beaches.

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

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.

"This new arrangement will allow Gambians to devote more time to prayers, social activities and agriculture - going back to the land and grow what we eat and eat what we grow, for a healthy and wealthy nation."

The statement said state schools would also be closed on Fridays, but were free to open on Saturdays to compensate for the lost day.

Until now, government employees have been working a five-day week, from 08:00 to 16:00.

The change means they would still work a 40-hour week, but critics say it would be disruptive.

They point out that the private sector would still work on Fridays, but would not be able to do any business with the government on that day.

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(Source: BBC)

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen ）