"There will be no work in the public sector on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, except for fundamental and necessary tasks," Vice President Aristobulo Isturiz said on television Tuesday.

It is the latest drastic measure by the government as it grapples with an economic crisis that has left Venezuelans queuing for hours in shops to buy scarce supplies.

President Nicolas Maduro said the new reduction in workdays, which affects the country's two million public sector employees, would last "at least" two weeks, as he addressed the nation in his weekly state television program Tuesday.

As part of its energy-saving push, the government on Monday launched a rationing plan with power cuts of four hours a day for 40 days in towns and cities across multiple states — but not in Caracas.

The move raised discontent among citizens already suffering from shortages of medicines and basic goods such as toilet paper and cooking oil.