Working In Brunei: Are Fridays Off?

In Brunei, the working week is Monday to Thursday and Saturday, with Friday and Sunday as days of rest. This is the only non-contiguous working week in the world, with Friday being a holy day for Muslims and Sunday for Christians. Some private companies in Brunei have adopted the more standard Monday to Friday working week, but for the majority of the country, Friday is a day off.

Friday is a non-working day in Brunei

The Friday and Sunday weekend is observed in Brunei for religious reasons. Friday is a holy day in Islam, during which Jumu'ah prayers take place. In the past, many Muslims in the country were unable to attend these prayers due to work commitments. As a result, the Sultan of Brunei changed the official working week to allow Muslims to practice their religion.

Some private companies in Brunei have adopted the more standard Monday to Friday working week. However, this is not the case for government institutions, which continue to observe the non-contiguous working week.

Sunday is also a non-working day

In Brunei, the weekend falls on Friday and Sunday, with the working week running from Monday to Thursday and Saturday. This is the only country in the world with a non-contiguous working week.

The concept of the weekend first arose in the industrial north of Britain in the early 19th century. In many Christian traditions, Sunday is the "day of rest and worship". As a result, Sunday is observed as a non-working day in seven countries. In some Muslim-majority countries, Friday is also observed as a non-working day.

In Brunei, Friday is a holy day, with many Muslims using the day for Friday prayers. This is why Friday is a non-working day in the country. However, some companies in Brunei do adopt a Monday to Friday workweek.

This means the weekend is split over two days

In Brunei, the weekend is split over two days: Friday and Sunday. This is because Friday is a holy day for Muslims, who make up the majority of the population. The country's leader, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, changed the working week to allow people time off to perform Friday prayers.

While Friday and Sunday are days of rest, government offices remain open on Saturdays. This means that the weekend is split, with Thursday evening to Friday evening, and then Saturday evening to Monday morning off work.

Some people in Brunei have expressed a preference for two consecutive days off, suggesting that having the weekend split over two days is not ideal for rest and recuperation. However, others appreciate having Fridays off to be able to attend religious services.

Brunei is the only country in the world with a non-contiguous working week, with working days falling on Monday to Thursday and Saturday. Some private companies in the country have adopted a standard Monday to Friday working week, with Friday and Saturday or Sunday off.

Friday is a holy day for Muslims

In Brunei, the working week is Monday to Thursday and Saturday, with Friday and Sunday as days of rest. This is to allow the Muslim population to attend Friday prayers, as Friday is a holy day for Muslims.

Friday is a very important day for Muslims. It is considered more significant and beneficial than any other day of the week. It is the day that Muslims gather together to pray in congregation, and directly before the prayer, they listen to a lecture about God and the religion of Islam.

Friday is a blessed day that has been designated as such by God, and no other day of the week shares its virtues. It is believed to be the day that Adam was created, the day he entered the Heavenly Gardens, the day he was expelled, and the day he died. It is also the day on which the Day of Resurrection will take place.

The importance of Friday in Islam is also reflected in the following quote from the Prophet Muhammad:

> The best day in the sight of God is Friday, the day of congregation.

In many Muslim-majority countries, Friday is a weekly holiday. However, there is no mandatory closing of businesses except during the time of the congregational prayer. In Western countries, many Muslims take their lunch break during the time for prayer, usually in the early afternoon.

The congregational prayer on Friday is obligatory for men and is one of the most strongly emphasized duties in Islam. It is a time when Muslims come together to worship One God and find strength and comfort by standing shoulder to shoulder, reaffirming their faith and devotion to Him.

The significance of Friday in Islam is further emphasized by the following hadith:

> The five daily prayers, and from one Friday prayer till the next, serves as an expiation for whatever sins have been committed between them, provided one does not commit any major sin.

While Friday is a holy day for Muslims, it is not a day of rest in the same way that the Jewish Shabbat or the Christian Sunday is. Instead, it is a day of spiritual devotion and community prayer, with a focus on worshipping God and seeking forgiveness for one's sins.

Some companies in Brunei work Monday to Friday

In Brunei, the weekend falls on Friday and Sunday, with the workweek spanning Monday to Thursday and Saturday. However, some companies in Brunei have adopted a Monday to Friday workweek, mirroring the structure followed by most countries globally. This shift has been observed in several institutions, including the University of Brunei Darussalam, Polytechnic Brunei, and the Institute of Brunei Technical Education.

The current workweek structure in Brunei can be traced back to the reign of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien, who noticed sparse attendance at Friday prayers. Upon inquiring about the reason, he was informed that people were busy with work commitments. As a result, the official working hours were changed to Monday to Thursday and Saturday, with Fridays off to facilitate the observance of religious obligations.

While this arrangement ensures that Muslims can attend Friday prayers, it has sparked discussions about the benefits of a two-day weekend for overall well-being and productivity. Some individuals express a preference for having two consecutive days off, ideally Saturday and Sunday, to achieve a better work-life balance. This sentiment is reflected in the Mental Health Action Plan developed by the Ministry of Health, which advocates for a better work-life balance for all workplaces.

The idea of a two-day weekend is not without precedent in Brunei. Some private companies and sectors have already implemented this structure, and there are ongoing trials in certain institutions to assess the feasibility of a Monday to Friday workweek. These trials have received positive feedback, and many hope that this arrangement will be permanently adopted.

The discussion surrounding workdays and weekends in Brunei is complex and multifaceted, taking into account religious obligations, cultural norms, and the desire for a healthier work-life balance. While the Friday to Sunday weekend is still prevalent, the shift towards a Monday to Friday workweek in some sectors reflects a changing landscape and a potential move towards greater work-life harmony.

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