Algeria

Algerians push their weekend back for better trade with the West

Article published on the 2009-08-14 Latest update 2009-08-14 10:29 TU

Storefronts are closed in Bab Ezzouar, Algeria.
(Photo: AFP)

Algerians will try out a new weekend for the first time Friday. Previously their days of rest fell on Thursday and Friday – a holy day for Muslims – but they will now have Friday and Saturday off after a government decision to make the country more business friendly.

The new weekend is part of a sweeping financial reform that seeks to mitigate the effects of falling oil revenues, a vast trade deficit and the global economic crisis. Other measures include strict new lending guidelines which prevent banks from lending to individuals for anything but a home. This, the government says, will limit personal debt loads garnered with frivolous purchases.

While the new Algerian weekend doesn’t line-up perfectly with the Western model, by adding Thursday it will extend the common work days per week from three to four.

The change was announced by the Council of Ministers on 21 July, and goes into effect today, less that one month later.

With so little time to prepare, some institutions are not following the law to the letter. Schools, for example, will remain closed on Thursday afternoon, and students will lose a half day of instruction per week.