To curb overcrowding at government agencies during the week, the city government offices opened for four extra hours on Saturdays beginning in February last year.

Le Van Thanh from the city Institute for Development Studies said the public was only notified for a few days when the Saturday mornings started. “Officials receive so little pay for working Saturdays that they don’t do much,” Thanh said.

Le Hieu Dang, vice chairman of HCMC Fatherland Front Committee, said he has heard residents’ complaints that “officials” worked reluctantly, didn’t focus on what they were doing and were just waiting to leave.”

Thanh Nien has also received citizens’ complaints about the Saturday hours at ward administrations and state notary offices.

The citizens’ said the office chiefs were usually absent and sometimes only one official was on duty to keep an eye on the office, meaning that customers had to return on weekdays.

Reported by Minh Nam – Le Nga