KATHMANDU, AUGUST 13
The government has ruled out any immediate review of its two-day public holiday system, despite criticism in the National Assembly that the arrangement has adversely affected education, business and government services.
Responding to questions from lawmakers on behalf of Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Thursday, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobita Gautam said no preparation was under way to restore the previous one-day weekend.
The two-day holiday system was introduced from April 6, 2026, initially citing difficulties in fuel supplies, the need to reduce fuel consumption and efforts to make public administration more results-oriented, Gautam said.
She told the National Assembly that the arrangement had since proved effective in promoting work-life balance, reducing energy and administrative costs, and encouraging domestic tourism and economic activity.
“The arrangement has been effective in maintaining employees’ work-life balance, achieving economy in energy and administrative expenditure, and promoting domestic tourism to keep economic activities moving,” Gautam said.
She also said the provision requiring government offices to open from 9:00 am had made public services more accessible and had positively affected employee morale and productivity.
The government has particularly linked the two-day weekend with an increase in domestic tourism, saying the trend has supported local economies.
The issue was raised by Nepal Communist Party lawmaker Bishnu Bahadur Bishwakarma, who described the two-day holiday as a “failed method” and called for a return to a one-day weekly holiday. He argued that the arrangement was affecting education, trade and government services.
During a supplementary question, Bishwakarma also raised concerns that the two-day holiday could make it difficult for schools to complete their curricula and could affect students and the delivery of government services.
Gautam said students’ overall development should not be viewed solely through classroom education, arguing that social interaction and sports were also important.
She said the government was aware of the concerns raised by lawmakers but had not begun any homework to change the current arrangement. However, she added that the suggestions received would be studied.