Flexible working hours from next month

Flexible working hours are to be offered to thousands of public servants serving in Colombo and the outskirts in a fresh bid to reduce traffic congestion at peak hours, a top official said yesterday.

Megapolis and Western Development Ministry Secretary Nihal Rupasinghe told the Sunday Times that the proposal would be implemented on a trial basis from next month and on a permanent basis from January in the Battaramulla area.

The Megapolis Ministry and the Transport Ministry are also having talks with private companies to encourage them also to have flexible working hours.

According to the plans, public sector employees will be given the opportunity to clock in between 7 am and 10 am and leave between 3.00 and 6 p.m. At present most public and private sector organisations have fixed working hours from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

However, it will be compulsory for employees to be working between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to ensure minimum inconvenience to the people who call over for official purposes.

Currently the Housing, Highways, Plantations and Education Ministries, the Immigration Department, the Department for the Registration of Persons, the Examinations Department, the Road Development Authority, the Urban Development Authority, the Foreign Employment Bureau are among the important institutions functioning in Battaramulla.

An estimated 350,000 people including employees and visitors come to the area on a daily basis.

Mr. Rupasinghe said after trying the plan out in Battaramulla, the flexible working hours would be introduced in Colombo city and other areas with Cabinet approval.

Meanwhile, in a related move, more UDA lands are to be open for vehicle parking to further reduce traffic congestion.