Weekend shift: A change for the better
However in the intervening years since 2007, the case for the change has become ever clearer and the argument to stay as we are, yet weaker. Though the economic impact has probably been exaggerated by some business leaders, the fact of the matter is that Saudi Arabia's working week is now aligned with that of our neighbors in the Gulf states. It means that the Arab world's largest economy will no longer be limited to three days in the week when business can be done both with GCC countries, but also with the rest of the world which takes the weekend on Saturday and Sunday.
The decree from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah comes into effect this week. As was pointed out in the accompanying statement, the change is designed to bring to an end the negative effects and lost economic opportunities "consistently associated with variation based on work days between local departments, ministries and institutions and their regional and international counterparts."
It is widely expected that the effect of the changes will kick in immediately. Certainly the private sector has been primed for this move for some while. Government ministries and other state organizations will have no choice in the matter.
Any change is bound to produce some grumbling. People who deal with companies and institutions in the Gulf may have become used to Saturday as being the least demanding day of their working week, quite simply because until the Sunday, there have been no counter-parties in other GCC countries to pick up the phone or answer e-mails.
Yet if there is some resentment at the transformation of Saturday into a fully-fledged working day with regional partners, then that will surely underline the importance of the change and make the strongest case for its implementation.
The Saudi private sector has long become accustomed to having key personnel working through, or at least being on standby over the weekend. Good business, like time itself, waits for no man. Commercial opportunities need to be seized when they appear. Time-critical contract documentation or compliance or certification procedures simply cannot be constrained within a period of three consecutive working days.
Therefore the economic consequences are likely to be far reaching, most especially for the nonoil private sector, the growth and success of which is key to the government's campaign to diversify the Kingdom's economic base. Not only is it crucial that Saudi business be supported in any way possible, but also it is equally important that government ministries are in a position to facilitate the transactions and processes of the corporate world.
That is why it would have been so disastrous if the idea had been accepted that government departments could continue with the Thursday/Friday week, while business could shift to Friday/Saturday. The notion never had any merit and it is clear that in the end, no one was prepared to give it houseroom.
There will of course be the odd annoying change - reorganizing child minders and cleaners and important family visits, for instance - but none of these will pose an insuperable difficulty. Indeed it could well be argued that the changeover will present an unusual opportunity for the Kingdom to demonstrate its flexibility and dedication to fostering an efficient and prosperous economy.
Ever since we became members of the World Trade Organization in 2005, Saudi Arabia has proved to everyone, including some notable high-profile doubters, who should have known better, that it is more than capable of adjusting to new challenges.
Under the short-term given to new WTO members, important Saudi companies that were dominant in the domestic economy, re-configured themselves and their organizational structures, so that they could go head to head and toe to toe with some of their toughest competitors on the worldwide business stage.
Seen in that light the shifting of the day of the weekend represents a final step in the transformation of the Kingdom into tough and effective player in international trade and commerce. Those who feel mild regret at the change should console themselves that while Thursdays will never be the same again, nor with Saturdays either.
Source: ARAB NEWS
