INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
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Under a new proposal, workers in Hebei province could see their weekend
extended
A province in China may give workers Friday afternoon off as part of wider efforts to boost consumption in the
country's slowing economy
Hebei province is considering extending the weekend "in areas where conditions allow," according to a government proposal
Other provincial governments in the country have experimented with similar schemes
The move comes as China's economic slowdown continues to deepen
The plan to extend the weekend in Hebei, published last week, is designed to improve consumption for 2019 and 2020.It discussed breaking the
barriers that limit consumption, as well as looking for new ways to spur consumption growth
Other provinces in China have experimented with similar ideas.In 2015, China's cabinet suggested adding Friday afternoon to the weekend
Since then, more than 10 provincial governments have reportedly announced plans to "explore" extending the weekend
Hebei's plan comes as fresh signs of economic strain in China emerge.On Monday, a sharp drop in China's imports raised concerns about
the strength of the world's second largest economy
Recent data has showed manufacturing activity has contracted and new orders have fallen.China's troubles have been compounded by a trade
war with the US, which has seen about half of Chinese exports to the country become subject to tariffs.Even though China's annual growth
is running at a lofty 6.5%, the economy has been slowing in recent years
Beijing has sought to contain the slowdown with monetary and fiscal stimulus.On Tuesday, China's finance ministry said it would step up
fiscal expenditure this year and implement larger tax cuts
