Only 30% of UAE federal government staff to return to workplace from May 31

The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) confirmed on Wednesday that only 30 per cent of federal government employees will return to work on Sunday, May 31.

It came on the same day that Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, said that 50 per cent of all Dubai government employees would resume working from their offices on Sunday, May 31. He added that 100 per cent of staff will begin working out of their offices from June 14.

Read: All Dubai government employees to begin working out of offices from June 14

The FAHR meanwhile has said that the percentage of attendance for federal government employees will increase gradually, “taking into account the application of precautionary measures for the health and safety of individuals and society, and evaluation and review of the decision carried out every week.”

تبدأ نسبة الحضور 30% كحد أدنى وتتزايد تدريجياً بناء على المستجدات، مع مراعاة تطبيق الإجراءات الاحترازية لصحة وسلامة الأفراد والمجتمع، ويتم التقييم والمراجعة للقرار كل اسبوع.#UAEGOV

— UAEGov (@uaegov) May 27, 2020

However, certain groups of employees are exempted from returning to work and will continue working from home.

They include pregnant women, people of determination, those with pre-existing chronic health issues, people who suffer from underlying respiratory diseases like asthma and diabetes, older employees, female employees who provide for their children in grade 9 and below until the end of current school year, female employees who are mothers to children in foster care or those who care for people who require permanent health care under emergency conditions, reported news agency WAM.

Also exempted are the employees who live with groups who are susceptible to health risks and their direct contacts, like elderly people or the people suffering from chronic diseases, weak immunity or people of determination.

The directive falls within the framework of enhancing continuity of government work, the gradual return of employees and provision of government services, in parallel with the implementation of remote work system for the above category of excluded employees.

The circular which has been sent to all federal government bodies states that upon implementing the gradual return to work, they must adhere to all precautionary health measures, including social distancing protocols among employees, implementation of a flexible attendance system and establishing an infrastructure that supports effective remote working systems.

Detailed regulations on the arrangements for return to work will be issued later by FAHR and circulated to all federal entities.