Sri Lanka has introduced a four-day working week for all state institutions, along with schools and universities, due to its deepening economic crisis marked by soaring fuel prices and severe shortages caused by the US-Israeli war in Iran. Officials said on Monday (March 16) that the new austerity measures, introduced amid uncertainty over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, would remain in place indefinitely.

Following a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prabath Chandrakeerthi, commissioner of essential services, said that all state institutions would shift to a four-day work week from Wednesday (March 18) in an extraordinary move. “We are also asking the private sector to follow suit and declare every Wednesday a holiday from now on,” he said. Essential services, including hospitals, ports and emergency services, will continue to operate as normal, senior officials added. This comes after the island country already introduced fuel rationing, as well as halting all public ceremonies and urging civil servants to work from home where possible to cut fuel use.

The president reportedly said at the meeting that the country “must prepare for the worst but hope for the best,” according to The Independent.

Sri Lanka said it had about six weeks of reserves remaining after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz following the attacks by the US and Israel on February 28. However, the nation warned that fresh disruptions in the Strait would severely impact the island nation.

Deputy minister of Trade, RM Jayawardena, said that transportation costs could rise and certain supply chain limitations could lead to higher prices for goods entering Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody told parliament on Tuesday that the government might resort to power cuts in the future if the situation did not improve.

Sri Lanka’s move comes just days after Pakistan implemented its own four-day work week for some of its employees. It also introduced emergency measures in response to rising fuel prices, shutting all schools for two weeks and ordering the public sector to implement a four-day work week.

Elsewhere, Thailand is encouraging its citizens to wear lighter clothing to reduce AC use, while Myanmar is limiting private cars to alternate days. In India, disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz have pushed up cooking gas prices. Many eateries have cut menus, reduced hours, or temporarily closed.

Bangladesh has introduced early Ramadan holidays and energy-saving blackouts, while the Philippines has introduced work-from-home rules and travel bans, with cash aid for workers.