The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) recently held two virtual workshops to introduce Cabinet Resolution No. (27) of 2020 regarding the remote work system in the federal government, using live broadcast tech via Webinar on the Internet. The workshops witnessed unprecedented interaction and turnout, followed by more than 18,000 employees from ministries and federal entities.
In this regard, Hamad Bou Amim, Director of Policies and Legal Affairs in the Authority, explained that the Authority will hold a series of similar workshops to address the details of remote work system in the federal government. He added that the two workshops focused on introducing federal government employees to the key and principles of working remotely, which represents one of the main working patterns approved by the federal government’s legislator, following experimental implementation in the federal government since 2017.
He said: “This system will enter into force permanently by the federal bodies in normal circumstances, side-by-side with other types of traditional work currently in place, after the end of the measures that have been taken to organize government work under emergency conditions.
“Remote work system in the federal government will help in creating new non-traditional job opportunities, as well as providing multiple job options for employees and their entities, and also help in maintaining work-life balance, provided it is implemented in a way that does not affect the achievement of the strategic goals of ministries and federal entities.”
Bou Amim added: "The system applies to national employees currently working for ministries and federal entities, or who will be appointed in the future in for jobs that can be done remotely as determined by the federal entities, in coordination with the Authority. In this, the entities should follow the standards stipulated in the system, as well as the human resources procedures and electronic systems adopted in the federal government."
He added that the remote work system in the federal government aims to attract and maintain top talents, reduce operational costs in federal ministries and entities, and provide government services in non-official working hours.
Types of remote work:
According to Bou Amim, remote work is divided into two types: partial remote work where the employee can, at the request of his employer, divide work time between office work and remote work in equal or different proportions per day/week/month, and full-time remote work which applies to jobs that can be performed completely from outside the original workplace.
He explained that a number of criteria must be observed when choosing jobs that suit performing remotely. For example, federal entities can determine the appropriate jobs for remote work in accordance with the following criteria: jobs must be of divisible nature; be subject to automation and require specific inputs that are handled through electronic systems.