From the National Day Rally speech:
"... But I think we have to keep a balance. There has to be on time
and off time. The US have got a good practice - five-day week. They
work like mad, Monday to Friday. Breakfast meeting 7am, dinner,
post-dinner meeting 10, 11; Friday night work late; Saturday,
Sunday sacrosanct, absolute no-no. Never mind who you are, no
business, they will save the time for the family, for the
community, they do so social work. Totally different personality.
They coach a basketball team. They work hard, five-day week. Other
countries are different. Five-day week, by Thursday afternoon the
weekend is getting close. We have always resisted a five-day week.
I have made this argument many times. When I went into MAS they put
up a paper. I said no. Last year they were about to put up a paper.
Before they could put it up, I had already answered somebody else
no in the newspapers. So they withdrew their proposal. But in fact
it is one of the most important things for our young people. And
when we talk to employees coming in or staff coming in and ask
them, what is it which you are looking for, the first thing they
ask us is, do you work on Saturdays, because they want that time.
Two days of a weekend is different from 1 1/2 days of a weekend. So
after having said no for a very long time, I think it is time to
turn this stone over also. So the civil service will go to a
five-day week. I didn't know you were all civil servants!
It will apply also to schools and army camps. But
we will not reduce the official working hours. So whatever it is,
44 hours you have to do, you cover that during the week. And if the
public counter is open on Saturday, has to be opened on Saturdays,
we will keep it open on Saturdays. So five-day week doesn't mean
everybody is off on Saturday. Some people may be off on Monday or
some other day of the week ..."
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/html/speeches/rallyspeech3.html
