Govt introduces flexible working time rule under pay framework

The Flexible Working Time (Faheli) rule included in the government's pay framework has been introduced to allow work outside official hours and is now in effect.

Under the flexibility principle, the government amended its pay framework last month to establish official working hours. The change was made as some agencies carry out work after official hours, resulting in idle time during office hours and extended overtime requirements.

Under the new rule, work carried out outside official hours will be counted as part of an employee’s official working hours.

The Pay Commission stated that the rule is now available to offices that wish to adopt flexible working arrangements.

As a result, if an employee is required to perform duties outside official hours due to the nature of the work, the time spent will be counted as part of their official working hours.

The official government working hours are from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Employees who work in maintenance, for example, are often required to work beyond those hours. The Pay Commission said the flexibility rule is designed to address this.

Under the revised framework, working hours must be set on a flexible basis and the start and end of duty recorded each time. If an employee leaves during working hours for personal reasons, that time must be made up within the same monthly pay cycle.

The amendment also converts work performed by professionals outside normal duty hours into recognised duty hours. Some roles may require more than one duty period per day; however, total duty time cannot exceed eight hours per day.

Agencies requiring service seven days a week may apply flexibility across all seven days

Agencies requiring service six days a week may apply flexibility for six days

Agencies requiring limited weekly service may set flexibility for all service days or fix working hours on selected days

Different working hours may be set for different days of the week