Paris - Algeria began its new working week Thursday, with workers turning up on what until now had been a free day forming the weekend along with Friday.

The weekend will now comprise Friday and Saturday under the new system, which means Algeria will share four working days per week instead of just three with the economically important West.

Under the old system, in force for three decades, it had shared only Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as working days with Western nations, causing huge economic losses.

Local media have quoted experts saying the gross national product could increase by 1.2 per cent as a result of the new working week. (dpa)