Ajman: The Ajman Government has approved a flexible work hour system for government institutions, authorities and departments affiliated to the emirate’s government.
Under the system, the working hours of employees will be divided into various periods for arriving at work and leaving. The official working hours are set from 7am to 2.30pm, while other timings will be considered official flexible working hours, as long as the employee commits to working seven straight hours that begin upon their arrival to the workplace. Employees are allowed to arrive at work between 7am and 8.30am, while the end of their shift can range from 2pm to 3.30pm, depending on their time of arrival.
As for Ramadan working hours, employees will be required to work for five hours upon their arrival at the workplace. The official working hours are set at 9am to 2pm. However with the flexible working hours system employees can begin their shift starting either at 8am or 10am, and end their shift at 1pm or 3pm.
The system provides flexible working hours to employees with personal or family responsibilities. It also aims to provide a high standard of services to customers by providing employees with diverse working hours. This ensures the satisfaction of employees and therefore ensures customer satisfaction as well.
Employees who need to leave the workplace to tend to personal matters are allowed a maximum period of three hours per day and a minimum of 30 minutes away from work. If the employee exceeds the three-hour period deductions will be made from their basic salary. Employees are allowed a maximum of seven personal hours per month.
An employee is allowed a study break of two hours a day, with the break beginning at 12.30pm. The employee must at least cover five working hours, and they are allowed to merge a study break with personal hours as long as the total amount does not exceed three working hours.
As for women employees returning from maternal leave, they are allowed one hour of breastfeeding per day for one year. The one-year breastfeeding period can be extended by another three months as long as the employee submits a written recommendation from an approved hospital. The one hour of breastfeeding will count towards working hours.
The Central Administration of the Human Resource Development at the Ajman Executive Council will be responsible for issuing circulars to all relevant bodies regarding the flexible working hours system.
