The Kuwaiti government’s recent announcement regarding reduced working hours during the upcoming Ramadan signifies a commitment to accommodating religious observances and fostering a supportive work environment for employees.
Under the new guidelines, employees will engage in four-hour work shifts, supplemented by grace periods. Women workers are granted two 15-minute grace periods, strategically placed at the beginning and end of the workday. In contrast, male workers will operate on a four-hour and 15-minute schedule, with a single 15-minute grace period in the morning.
This decision emerged after the comprehensive review of employees’ performance evaluations for the year 2023 by the Financial and Administrative Affairs Sector in the Civil Service Commission (CSC). The completion of these evaluations aligns with the broader goal of finalizing performance assessment reports across ministries, public institutions, and government agencies in Kuwait before the onset of the new budget year on April 1.
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Government departments in Kuwait have been granted the authority to determine appropriate work hours and shifts for their employees, subject to approval from the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for the designated working hours. The introduction of a grace period of 15 minutes in the morning recognizes punctuality and allows those arriving on time to leave work slightly earlier.
Furthermore, the guidelines outline a flexibility window of a maximum of two hours and a minimum of one hour for permissible partial absences during Ramadan. These measures collectively reflect a nuanced approach to work-life balance during this significant religious period, demonstrating the government’s commitment to employee welfare and cultural considerations.
