More than a month of long weekends for some
Dubai has announced that it is introducing a trial four day work week with shorter hours for government workers.
The announcement is part of the emirate’s pilot launch initiative implementing flexible Dubai working hours for government employees during the hot summer months.
Announced via the UAE BARQ by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department early on the evening of Wednesday August 7, the “Our Summer is Flexible” initiative will run for eight weeks.
Starting from Monday August 12 and running until Monday September 30, it will see workers in 15 government entities work shorter hours from Mondays until Thursday and introduce more than a month of three-day weekends.
Government workers will work for just seven hours per day for four days of the week while Fridays will be an extra day off for government employees during the trial period.
Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, director-general of the DGHR Department, said via the government news agency WAM that the announcement promotes a work-life balance.
He said: “We are thrilled to announce that DGHR will be launching the ‘Our Flexible Summer’ initiative, in line with our long-standing efforts to nurture a flexible work environment that promotes the work-life balance of government employees, in accordance with best international practices.
“The launch will also further our vision to empower human resources by developing smart solutions and innovative policies to uplift Dubai’s competitiveness.
“The initiative aims to enhance employees’ quality of life and promote sustainable use of government resources, positioning Dubai as the ideal city for a superior lifestyle.”
In preparation for the launch, DGHR conducted a survey to understand the opinions of various government entities and their willingness to reduce working hours during summer.
The authority will also regularly assess the feedback received to create a final report summarising the initiative’s outcomes, the department’s recommendations, and its adaptability to various government entities.
In the private sector, summer working hours are decided by each company with some already in place.
This is different from during times of national emergency such as periods of bad weather or during the public holiday period when The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation sets out the working hours ahead of time.
The summer season officially began on Friday June 21, according to Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Board Chairman of the Emirates Astronomical Society and member of the Arab Union for Space and Astronomy Sciences.
Seasons, as well as public holidays, are decided by the lunar cycle in the Hijri calendar in the United Arab Emirates.
The second half of summer, starting on August 11, will be distinguished by a sudden rise in humidity, constant high temperatures and an activation of moist Koi winds.
Koi winds are known for leading to thunderstorms after the wind encourages the formation of cumulonimbus clouds over mountainous regions and neighbouring areas. Some of this bad weather has been seen recently in Al Ain.
In local folklore, the rising of the Suhail star marks the end of the intense summer heat and the beginning of more pleasant weather.
While we’re fully experiencing summer right now, we can start to look forward to the autumnal equinox, which will happen on Monday September 23.
Source: Timeoutdubai.com
