President Nicolas Maduro said Venezuelans will have "long weekends" in an appearance on state television on Wednesday night, announcing the measure as part of a 60-day plan to fight a power crunch.
"This plan for 60 days, for two months, will allow the country to get through the most difficult period with the most risk. I call on families, on the youth, to join this plan with discipline, with conscience and extreme collaboration to confront this extreme situation," Maduro said.
The government's plan will be effective from this Friday and last until June 6, according to Agence France Presse.
Some Venezuelans took it to social media to express their surprise.
Maduro's no-work Friday decision is meant to last 60days #venezuela #PowerCrisis he doesnt seem to know people also burn electricity at home
— Margot (@margotch) April 7, 2016
Many others wondered how the measure would impact schools, bureaucratic procedures and supermarkets.
It was not immediately clear how the non-working Fridays would affect the public and private sector.
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