Public agencies encouraged to adopt Blue Sky Day

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The Public Service will continue to encourage more public agencies to adopt the practice of Blue Sky Day where possible, said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.

Blue Sky Day is the term used for a day of the week when employees do not stay late at work so they can have personal and family time.

Mr Teo was responding to a question by Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap about the weekly working hours of civil servants.

In a written reply, Mr Teo said that civil servants are required to work an average of 42 hours a week - about the same as companies in various industries, according to labour market surveys by the Manpower Ministry.

Mr Teo noted that Blue Sky Day is gaining traction, and that 35 public service agencies have already introduced the practice on a weekly basis.

He added that civil servants are encouraged to leave work on time every day, as long as doing so does not affect their operational readiness and level of service to the public.

In response to a question about whether the government would consider lowering the number of working hours to 40 a week, Mr Teo said that there is a need for "careful study" of what kind of impact such a move would have on service levels to the public.

A move like that can only be considered if civil servants are confident that they can provide the same level of service in a shorter time.