Petrol pump owners want an eight-hour, six-day work schedule for their employees, saying it is getting difficult to employ staff for longer hours without an increase in their margins.

Besides, they want petrol stations to be closed on Sundays in line with the governments push for lesser consumption of fossil fuel as part of a green initiative.

They said the two steps should be implemented from May 10.

Fuel stations across the country employ roughly 500,000 employees, including 100,000 temporary contractual workers.

The Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers said the twin moves will reduce consumption by 25 per cent in a country that depends heavily on fuel imports.