As per the UAE’s Cabinet resolution No. 48 of 2023, the federal government employees who opt to work 10 hours a day are entitled to a three-day weekend.
The resolution sets the executive regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. 49 of 2022 on human resources in the federal government. It has set out multiple work patterns in the federal government, which will come into effect on July 1.
The law, which focuses on developing a stimulating and enabling work environment for government employees, aims to cope with the recent changes taking place in the work environment over the past years, thereby, enhancing the legislative flexibility of the government HR system through the continuous updating of regulations and policies.
According to article 2 of the executive regulations of the law, the employee who works 10 hours a day and four working days per week, is entitled to three-day weekend as he works for intensive working hours under the work model called the compressed work week.
The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources said staff could be eligible to complete their set weekly hours in four days – working no more than 10 hours per day or 40 hours per week – as part of the intensive working hours plan, if agreed by their employer.
The authority said in an update later on Thursday that the application of the four-day week would be “subject to specific, clear, and exceptional regulations” relating to individual federal bodies and job roles and would require prior approval.
The new measures, which have been published on the authority’s website this week, form part of a new working model outlined for government employees.
The plan also allows for remote working, both in and outside of the country and to cover temporary and part-time jobs.
The move to a three-day weekend for some workers is in line with the UAE’s efforts to deliver more agile and efficient employment rules.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/JUDVMR5J6EOBMHH3JGOHQ5QFLE.jpg "UAE: Three-day weekend option for federal employees 3")
The regulations specify part-time working hours of not less than 8 hours and not more than 32 hours per week, as well as working days during weekly working days of no less than one and no more than four days per week.
In November 2021, authorities introduced similar procedures for the private sector, covering temporary and flexible work, freelance jobs, condensed working hours and shared jobs.
A condensed working model was established in which staff could work for only three days per week, as long as they completed 40 hours in this period.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said this would require the agreement of both the employee and the employer.
Four-day week pays dividends
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/KENDBPD7XJDGLHI6BS5XQ3SCOU.jpg "UAE: Three-day weekend option for federal employees 4")
The UAE moved to a 4.5 day week for government staff in January 2022, as part of its shift to a Saturday-Sunday weekend, which moved it in line with many leading economies across the globe.
The new rules allowed for staff to work full-time from Monday to Thursday, with a half day on Fridays.
The emirate’s leadership said the switch had proved successful.
Eight months after Sharjah adopted a four-day work week, the number of road-related accidents and deaths in the emirate has been slashed by 40 per cent, official figures showed.
In the first three months of the year, the emirate noted a huge reduction in traffic accidents and fatalities compared with the same period last year.
Findings from a study presented at a Sharjah Executive Council meeting last August attributed the drop in road traffic accidents to the new working week.
Officials said there has also been a significant boost in government employee productivity. Those working in departments that enjoy a Friday to Sunday weekend reported feeling healthier and happier, and having more time to spend with their families.
As a result, customer happiness also improved across a number of Sharjah government services.
According to article 9 of the HR law’s executive regulations, federal government employees are appointed through five work models:
Five work models
1. Work from the office
Under this work model throughout official working days and hours, the employee is appointed to perform his job as defined by the employer, either from office or one of the employer’s branches.
2. Work remotely from within the UAE
The employee will have to work or perform his job duties from outside the office, but within the country, according to the provisions of the Remote Work Law issued by the Cabinet upon the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources’ proposal and will be paid according to the law.
The employee is required to work or fulfil his job tasks from outside the country and will be paid according to the law.
4. Intensive working hours (compressed work week)
The employee works the entire official weekly working hours required from him on fewer working days per week, up to a maximum of 10 hours per day for 4 working days per week.
5. Hybrid work
Under hybrid work model, the employee integrates work from office with remote work. The employee is recruited to perform part of his job tasks from office and the other part through the remote work, with the permissibility of mixing more than one of the other types of work.
Four types of employment
According to the new HR law, there are four types of employment, including full-time job, part-time job, temporary work and flexible work.
The employee’s work model may be converted from a part-time to a full-time job and vice versa at the employee’s request and as determined by the employer, provided that the transfer is for the same job and grade and that the payment for the grade is available.
United Arab Emirates Dirham Exchange Rate
