The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) of the UAE issued a circular to all ministries and federal entities yesterday on flexible remote working for federal government employees on Fridays.
The step is taken to ensure continuity of service provision and the federal government’s proper functioning during the implementation of the remote working system, said local reports.
The circular is based on the system of weekly work in the federal government sector, which started at the beginning of this year according to the directives issued by the competent authorities and based on Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2020 regarding the remote working system in the federal government as amended.
In its circular No.(2) of 2022, the authority issued a set of instructions for ministries and federal entities to follow, and specific conditions that must be fulfilled for some employees to work remotely on Fridays.
The federal entity must select the appropriate jobs for working remotely by coordinating with the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, provided they get the employee’s acceptance through their line manager regarding working remotely on Fridays.
The circular stated the necessity of having sufficient employees at the federal entity’s headquarters to ensure the continuity of providing services to customers.
Reportedly, the minimum percentage of employees working from office should be 70 in the federal entity.
Employees with residences far from workplaces would be prioritized as well as other humanitarian conditions in this aspect would also be considered.
The HR departments in the ministries and federal entities take over the task of supervising the rotation between employees in the organizational units of the entity who meet the conditions for remote work.
The authority confirmed that it has re-engineered the HR Management Information System in the Federal Government “Bayanati”, as per the provisions of this circular for all operators of the system, to automate and facilitate the process for the employees applying for remote working on Fridays.