‘Weeks of rest won’t affect salaries in public sector’

Govt obligated to pay basic salaries of employees in full, allowances

KUWAIT CITY, April 9: Considering the period between April 12th and 23rd to be rest days for State employees will not lead to any prejudice on salaries, because the government is obligated to pay the basic salaries of employees in full, in addition to approved allowances and bonuses such as social allowance and allowances for children, high cost of living, among others, reports Al-Anba daily.

On the other hand, well-informed sources indicated the advantage gained from considering the period from March 12 to April 9th as official holiday is recycling the leave balance for employees who happened to take an official vacation during the same period, as the mentioned period will be added to their vacation balance.

They said the next two weeks are considered justified rest days to avoid opening the door of claims for compensation by employees whose nature of work invited them to work.

They added: “Considering the next two weeks rest days legally is a correct step for some government agencies not fall under the penalty of implementing law and providing compensation to groups of employees who are already working during official holiday.”

They added: It is necessary to rectify the matter and issue an appendix to a decision to consider the period from March 12 to April 9 official holiday, stipulating that the period in question is considered an exceptional emergency holiday to protect employees from coronavirus infection, and whoever works during this holiday is considered normal working days and whoever does not work will not be liable to deduction.

They stressed that this decision closes the section of claims some employees may resort to, as their nature of work required them to go to work.