“Our aim is improve access to public services. Therefore, cash offices and the Citizens Advice Bureau will remain open on Saturdays,” said Moutia.
He added that this will be operational from February 1. Moutia confirmed this statement during a workshop held by the Public Officers’ Welfare Council at Le Méridien, Pointe aux Piments on Thursday.
However, some trade unionists were not happy with this decision announced in the last budget. Toolsyraj Benydin, president of the Conseil des Syndicats stated that to work on Saturdays is not in line with the leisure policy.
“This will have severe repercussions if the offices remain open on Saturdays. It is sad that the minister of Finance has not looked into all its implications,” said the president of the Government Services Employees Association, Radhakrishna Sadien.
The objective of the workshop was to receive feedback from representatives of staff welfare associations on activities organised during 2011, seek suggestions for improvement and draw up an action plan for 2012.