Venezuela has ordered its public sector employees to work a two-day week in a bid to save energy in the crisis-hit country.

President Nicolas Maduro had already given most ofVenezuela's 2.8million state staff Fridays off during Apriland May to cut down on electricity consumption.

But his socialist government has now extended the move as the water shortages and electricity cuts show no sign of abating.

'From tomorrow, for at least two weeks, we are going to haveWednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays as non-working days for thepublic sector,' Maduro said on his weekly television program.

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A man repairs a device during a power outage in San Cristobal, Venezuela. Several cities will be under state-imposed four-hour electricity blackouts as a measure to mitigate the effects of the drought in the country. The government has also ordered its public sector employees to work a two-day week in a bid to save energy

Drought has reduced water levels at Venezuela's main dam andhydroelectric plant in Guri to near-critical levels. The dam provides for about two-thirds of the nation's energy needs.

Water shortages and power cuts have added to thehardships of Venezuela's 30 million people who are already enduring abrutal recession, shortages of basics from milk to medicines,soaring prices and long lines at shops.

Maduro, 53, who succeeded the late Hugo Chavez in 2013 andis facing an opposition push to remove him through a recallreferendum, appealed for understanding and support.

'The Guri has virtually become a desert. With all thesemeasures, we are going to save it,' he said, adding that thedaily drop in water level had slowed to 10 centimetres from 20cm.

After months of unscheduled outages, the government beganprogrammed electricity rationing this week across most ofVenezuela, except the capital Caracas, prompting protests in some cities.

Desperate times: President Nicolas Maduro (pictured) had already given most of Venezuela's 2.8million state staff Fridays off during April and May to cut down on electricity consumption

Maduro has also changed the clocks so there is half an hourmore daylight in the evening, urged women to reduce use ofappliances like hairdryers and ordered malls to provide theirown generators.

Regarding the public sector measure, the government isexcluding workers in sensitive sectors such as food. Full salaries will still be paid despite the two-day week.

Critics have derided Maduro for giving state employees daysoff, arguing it would hurt national productivity and wasunlikely to save electricity because people would simply go homeand turn on appliances there instead.

'Maduro says that "we in government don't stop working for asecond".

'Of course. Except for Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays,Saturdays and Sundays!' satirised Leonardo Padron, a columnistfor pro-opposition El Nacional newspaper, via Twitter.

Officials said the El Nino weather phenomenon is responsiblefor Venezuela's electricity woes.