Venezuela only works 2 days/week to save electricity

Venezuelan civil servants will work only two days a week as the country faces an electricity crisis.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced yesterday (April 26) that the government is reducing working hours for at least two weeks to save energy.

Venezuela is facing severe power shortages due to drought. (Photo: Reuters)

Water levels at the country's largest hydroelectric dam are falling near minimum operating levels due to severe drought, Maduro said.

Venezuela has had to give nearly 3 million workers and civil servants Fridays off since the beginning of this month.

The government is now extending Fridays to elementary school teachers. Meanwhile, staff at public hospitals and state-run supermarkets are operating as normal. Employees are still being paid for the days they have to stay home.

Electricity shortages are a common problem in Venezuela. The late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez pledged to solve this problem in 2010. However, the situation has not improved to date./.

According to VOV