Professionals Australia has criticised the government’s 1950s “punch-clock” mentality, saying that public servants already work hundreds of hours in unpaid overtime due to ongoing workforce cuts.

Australia's 160,000 federal public servants are facing an assault on their traditional 7.5-hour working day as the Coalition pursues its tough policies on pay and conditions.

The government has confirmed that departments have been given the go-ahead to demand longer working hours from their workers in return for annual pay rises in enterprise bargaining deals.

David Smith has raised his concerns in The Sydney Morning Herald, saying that employees across an increasing number of departments and agencies were facing increased hours of work as part of bargaining talks and that more time at their desks each week was likely for many government employees.

“This is a double whammy,” Mr Smith said.

“At the same time as jobs are being cut, employees are effectively looking at working an extra week every year.

“This is a 1950s approach that focuses on a 'punch clock' mentality rather than outputs.

“It’s not a genuine productivity.

“Our members are already working hundreds of additional unpaid hours to cover existing science and engineering skills gaps.”

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Public Servants to work longer for more pay , Noel Towell, Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 19 April 2014.