The Ministry of Finance has announced amendments to the Pay Framework Standards, permitting civil service employees to receive attendance allowance for working on public holidays.
The amended Pay Framework Standards released by the finance ministry stipulate that attendance allowance will be granted when an employee is on duty in the office during official holidays and regular working days. Office attendance is defined as physical presence in the office and it includes being signed in for remote work arrangements.
Additionally, the standards have been amended to extend the eligibility for attendance allowances to employees attending the office on Fridays and public holidays as defined in the Employment Act, provided they work at least half of the total official working hours on a standard workday. Attendance allowances will also be applicable for official trips, whether domestic or international.
Furthermore, the amendment outlines specific scenarios where exemptions from the payment of attendance allowances are allowed. If an employee leaves employment within a maximum of 21 months from migrating to the state pay framework, they retain the right to choose the allowance to which they are entitled.