In a move aimed at providing greater flexibility for civil servants facing unexpected challenges, the Civil Service Commission has officially amended the civil service regulation to introduce a 30‑minute buffer time for employees who are unable to attend office at the scheduled start of the official workday.
Under the new rule, civil service staff who arrive within 30 minutes of the official start time will be considered on time, with their closing time adjusted accordingly. For example, if the workday begins at 8:00 am and an employee arrives at 8:15 am, the employee will be required to complete work at 2:15 pm instead of the standard 2:00 pm, thereby preserving the total number of official working hours.
The amendment stipulates that the buffer time can be used without prior permission when a special circumstance prevents timely attendance. However, if an employee does not show up within the 30‑minute window, they must immediately notify the Human Resources section, providing a reason for the absence. After the buffer period expires, the attendance record is final and cannot be altered for any reason.
In addition to the new attendance policy, the revised regulations also address the working hours of mosque employees. Imams are required to arrive at the mosque five minutes before each prayer time, while other mosque staff must be present at least 15 minutes early to clean and prepare the mosque for worship. The regulation further mandates that mosque workers spend a minimum of 30 minutes in the mosque for each prayer session and that they log at least five hours of work per day.