CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) – Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro said Tuesday he was scrapping an emergency measure that had public sector employees working only two days a week.

The socialist leader in late April restricted the work week to just Mondays and Tuesdays to save power in a country hit by electricity shortages.

The shortages have worsened hardship in the South American country, where citizens are suffering shortages of basic supplies.

“From this week, on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays public workers will go back to work until one o’clock in the afternoon, six hours in total,” Maduro said in a televised address.

Pupils will also go back to schools on Fridays after several weeks of closure on that day.

Maduro blames the power shortages on a drought that has dried up Venezuela’s hydroelectric dams.

His opponents say officials have mismanaged the power network.

The opposition blames him for the economic crisis and is calling for a referendum on removing him from office.