GOVERNMENT bodies will increase the number of employees working remotely to 70 per cent of their workforce, as part of measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus, GDNonline reported today.
Civil Service Bureau (CSB) president Ahmed Al Zayed yesterday said the decision follows directives issued by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier.
He said that up to 70 per cent of public employees at ministries, authorities and government associations will work from home starting Sunday until further notice, while taking into account work requirements and quality of service provided to citizens and residents.
“This decision aims to reduce the number of employees present at workplaces for each authority within precautionary and preventative measures to limit the spread of Covid-19,” he said in a statement.
“Each government body will determine the jobs and employees that are included in this percentage and employees will carry out their duties in shifts between their workplace and residence.
“Employees are to be at their workplace if a need arises based on an assessment of the independent government authority.
“Vital jobs are to be excluded from this percentage based on a collaborative assessment conducted between the CSB and the government authority bearing in mind public interest requirements.”
It comes after 50pc of employees working in government bodies have been working remotely for the last two weeks.
Meanwhile, all public school teachers will be working remotely staring Sunday.
Details were announced last night by the Education Ministry in compliance with directives issued by the CSB.
However, administrative and technical staff will continue to work at the school premises.
