Members of the public have been reminded to adjust their clocks one hour forward at 3am on Sunday 27 September as Samoa moves to daylight savings.

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (M.C.I.L.) Chief Executive Officer, Pulotu Lyndon Chu Ling, confirmed the change in a public statement.

According to the notice, it states that in pursuant to the Daylight Saving Act 2009 and Cabinet’s decision FK (20) 36, businesses and the general public are hereby advised that daylight saving time is on Sunday, 27th of September 2020.

However, the Ministry advised that the public adjust their time an hour forward before retiring to bed on Saturday night, 26 September.

The Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi told Radio 2AP in a recent interview that the change in time is used to ease the price of electricity and to prolong the time of a day.

He also explained that the changing of time going forward one hour would be of great help in the protection of school children especially the female students during the time they walk amidst bushes due to the concern with the increase in bad acts happening nowadays.

Tuilaepa also said that prolonging days during the mornings and at nighttime, is useful for those who work and are sports players.

“It is because there is plenty of time in the morning for you to do some chores like planting some taro then shower before you go to work,” he added.

The Prime Minister also highlighted that the office hour to start work goes together with the time schools begin around 9am.

Furthermore, Tuilaepa stated that those that do not support the changes in time are people who do not work or are lazy.

Another reason why the change in time is important, is because it will save one hour of power, he said.

“If you sleep at 11pm every night, with the change in time, you will see the saving of electricity," he said.

“Now if you save one hour per day of using electricity for six months, you could save thousands.

“I am speaking as an accountant in terms of the numbers but you cannot talk sense to those that are always going out at night.”