MUMBAI: Critiquing the Uddhav Thackeray-led regime's decision to introduce a five-day week for government staff,

has questioned why there should not be a 'uniform leave code' for all sections of society rather than one whose benefits were restricted to state employees.

Government has increased daily working hours by 45minutes to compensate for a 5-day week. On the whole,

welcomed the move, but said government staff should consider that labourers, daily wage workers, farmers and housewives work without offs. The police and armed forces toil similarly, it said. A 'uniform leave code' for all on the lines of a uniform civil code is the need of the hour.

The Saamna edit pointed out the lack of a mechanism to measure productivity and analyse if the new system would assure relief to the common man. The state should implement a 'citizen charter' and 'right to service act' to ensure accountability against a five-day week rule, it said.

"People expect government staff to be more efficient and increase productivity to provide relief for the common man after the implementation of a five-day week formula," it suggested.

The edit also dwelt on the 'Suttibaaz' culture, which allowed Indians to take frequent holidays on birth and death anniversaries of national and religious leaders and festivals. "Voters get a holiday on the occasion of voting day, still voting percentage does not cross the 50% turnout."

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it said it is expected of presidents, prime ministers, chief ministers and governors to work without leave.

"It is said Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) works 18-19 hours a day and he hasn't taken a day off till date...the government spends Rs 1.75 crore-odd daily on the Prime Minister's security and the cost of his visits to various countries has gone up to Rs 700-800 crore. Our politicians do not travel by trains, metro, tram or bus like politicians in other countries. Hence, it's not a great deal if they work without holidays," Saamna said.