‘4 and half hours duty must’
Flexible timings ... two hours window to start work
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 19: The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has announced that the number of official working hours in the public sector during the holy month of Ramadan will be four hours and a half; affirming the flexible working hours mechanism remains in effect such that the window for starting work during Ramadan will be from 8:30 am to 10:30 am, report Al-Seyassah daily.
In a press statement, the CSC explained the employees can choose the time to start work from 8:30 am to 10:30 am; provided they complete four and a half hours, without prejudice to the 15 minutes grace period specified for all employee at the beginning of the working day and the additional 15 minutes for females at the end of the working day.
Implement
The CSC pointed out that to implement the flexible working hours system, the automated systems in the government entities should allow multiple verification of arrival and departure times; as well as the calculation of the number of official working hours and the grace period individually for each employee. It clarified that this system does not apply to the employees subject to the reduced working hours mechanism based on the legally prescribed reasons, and those subject to the ‘partial absence without pay’ mechanism in terms of determining the arrival and departure times.
The CSC said the calculation of the grace period, tardiness and hours for calling in sick at the beginning of the work day is included in this decision, indicating the grace period is calculated after 10:30 am -- the last start of work timing in the flexible working hours system.
It added that a government entity may oblige its employees to follow one work period or let them choose from the specified timings. It also stressed that the decision does not affect the shifting or guard systems in force and does not entail the application of the provisions of this law on the disbursement of any additional compensation, allowances, incentives or bonuses.
The CSC stipulated the flexible Ramadan timings as follows:
■ from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
■ from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm
■ from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm
■ from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm
■ from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm