Beginning in July, public companies, finance and insurance firms, and workplaces with over 1,000 employees will introduce the five-day work week.

In line with these measures, public officials will have one Saturday off every month from January, and two Saturdays off from July.

However, the monthly leave for workers and women's paid menstrual leave will be scrapped, and people will be allowed 15 to 25 days of paid holidays per year.

Additionally, a five-day school week will be adopted by 1,024 elementary, middle and high schools in 2004.

Last year, the new system was first implemented at 26 schools, allowing students to take Saturday off once a month.

The government plans to apply the system to more schools in the coming years to meet changes in the five-day work week.