Honduran government orders time off so employees can watch World Cup matches

Honduran government orders time off for WCup

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — The Honduran government has approved a work schedule that allows 200,000 public employees time off the job to watch the national team play in the World Cup in South Africa.

The government has urged private enterprises to do the same.

Africo Madrid, the government minister in charge of the changes, said Tuesday that employees would not have to begin work until 10 a.m. local time on June 16 when Honduras plays Chile. The match begins early in the morning, Honduran time.

Honduras faces Spain on June 21 and Switzerland on June 25. Matches those days begin in the early afternoon, Honduran time. Employees will be released at 11:30 a.m.

Honduras is playing in only its second World Cup. In 1982 it failed to win a match.