Iran’s parliament has approved a new bill establishing a five-day workweek for government offices, making Thursdays an official day off.
Under the newly passed legislation, all executive bodies, both at the national and provincial levels, will operate from Saturday to Wednesday, with Thursday now designated as a non-working day.
The bill includes exceptions for key sectors such as military, law enforcement, and security services, as well as essential service providers, including banks, customs offices, hospitals, healthcare centers, and sports facilities, which will continue to operate as usual.
The decision comes after lawmakers addressed concerns raised by the Guardian Council, Iran’s constitutional oversight body. In response, amendments were introduced to the bill to ensure certain operational services were exempt from the new schedule.
The bill, which revises Article 87 of the Civil Service Management Law, was approved during an open parliamentary session on Wednesday. A detailed list of exempted operational units will be drafted by the Administrative and Employment Organization and later approved by the Cabinet when the law comes into effect.
Earlier proposals to make Saturdays a holiday were abandoned after facing significant opposition, largely due to religious concerns.
