Government Offices to Reopen from Tomorrow Onwards

Government institutions have remained closed temporarily as directed by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to battle the second wave of Covid19 spread in the Maldives in May 2021. After careful evaluation of the improving situation, President has now issued a directive guiding all government institutions to adhere to set guidelines and officially reopen from August 8 for operations. It is in line with the Health Protection Agency permitting employees to return back to work from office from the said date onwards.  
 
Guidelines for institutions to abide by encourage staff to compete their work within the regular office hours and to avoid staying long past the duty shift. This it to ensure that unless absolutely necessary, physical interactions with each other and the public is minimized. Institutions are also instructed to close by 4 p.m. latest in the directive.  
 
Services that will be provided online are to be informed by the authorities respectively and subsequently implement and regularize such means. This includes digitalizing work to the most extent possible in light of being instructed to undertake necessary expense-reductions in light of the economic downturn caused by the pandemic. All government institutions are to implement possible cost-cutting measures to reduce the strain on the national budget. 
 
In president’s directive, he has mandated the observation of good hygiene and adherence to HPA guidelines in the workplace in addition to the relevant Civil Service Commission Circular. 
 
Photo: Mihaaru