Iran’s Parliament Approves Thursdays as Second Weekend Day

Iran’s Parliament has voted to make Thursdays the second weekend day alongside Fridays, pending approval from the Guardian Council. The new schedule would have government agencies operate from Saturday to Wednesday while exempting some sectors. This decision follows previous proposals that aimed to align Iran’s weekends with international norms.

On Wednesday, Iranian lawmakers voted in an open session to designate Thursdays as the country’s second weekend day, in addition to Fridays. However, this decision is pending approval from the Guardian Council before it can officially become law. Consequently, governmental institutions will function from Saturday to Wednesday during the workweek while various agencies, including military and security forces, remain exempt from this regulation.

The previous administration had previously proposed a similar bill, which sparked significant debate nationwide. Many private sector representatives argued for Saturday to be recognized as the second weekend day to facilitate Iran’s international trade relations, as most countries observe Saturdays and Sundays as their weekends. On May 15, 2024, the former Parliament had supported the Saturday proposal, but it was ultimately rejected by the Guardian Council and returned for revision.

In summary, the Iranian Parliament’s recent vote to establish Thursdays as the second weekend day is a significant shift in the country’s workweek structure, pending confirmation from the Guardian Council. This decision reflects ongoing discussions about aligning weekend days with international standards. The exemption of certain agencies indicates a careful approach towards accommodating national interests in different sectors.

Original Source: www.tehrantimes.com