Civil servants and those working at public institutions in south China's Guangdong Province may find it easier to get up in the morning from July 1 when they will start work half an hour later, at 8:30 am.

The lunchtime break will be half an hour shorter, making it two hours, accordingly to a notice issued by the provincial government. Institutions of higher learning and research are free to adopt the new scheme if they want.

"This means I will have more time of my own," one worker who works for the Guangzhou municipal government told China Daily.

Another worker, who takes her daughter to primary school before she rushes to her government office in the morning, said she would now have more time to complete the task.

Under the existing scheme, civil servants and those working at public institutions work from 8 am to 5:30 pm, with a two-and-a-half-hour noon break, meaning they spend nine and a half hours at the office.

The long noon break, which has been in use for decades, used to be necessary to allow people to go back home to cook lunch and have a nap.

However, with the rapid expansion of cities, fewer people choose to travel the long distance back home for lunch and instead eat in canteens and restaurants.

After a quick lunch, they have plenty of time for a nap. But then, they find they do not have as much time off work.

The change was debated after a deputy to the provincial people's congress proposed last year that a nine-to-five scheme be adopted in Guangdong.

The change, said a source with the General Office of the provincial government, has been introduced so that civil servants will fit in with other work place routines. Many firms and institutions in Guangdong, and those overseas, have a nine-to-five schedule.

Many government agencies are relatively quiet during the 8 am to 9 am period.

But Guangdong may find it inconvenient if it moves too far away from practices still used in other areas of China, where work starts at 8 am.

Although the new ruling does not completely follow the suggestion from Liao Ru, the provincial people's congress deputy who made the initial proposal, she nevertheless welcomed the change. She cited the merits of the change, including an easing of traffic jams, and more time for morning exercises and breakfast. The change will also allow more time for family members to be together.

According to the Guangzhou Municipal Communications Commission, the change could reduce rush hour traffic in the morning.

However, bus companies in the city said that remains to be seen as civil servants account for only a small portion of their passengers.

(China Daily May 12, 2005)