The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR), issued a circular to all ministries and federal entities, regarding some amendments to the procedures for dealing with COVID- 19 pandemic at the Federal Government level. The new procedures will come to effect as of Sunday, January 24, 2021, obliging the Federal Government employees to undergo a nasal swab test every 7 days, in the event that they have not received the two doses of COVID- 19 vaccine.
According to the Authority’s circular, these measures are made in line with the directions of the UAE Government in addressing the pandemic, limiting its repercussions, and protecting the employees’ health in a safe work environment. The circular urged all federal bodies to implement several procedures, related to their employees and those of outsourcing and public services companies, as well as employees of consulting services and expert houses they deal with, to protect them and their families from infection with the virus.
With regard to the employees of the Ministries and Federal Entities, the circular stipulated that they must undergo a nasal swab test (PCR) every 14 days; at the employee's own expense, an exception is made for employees who have received the COVID-19 vaccine, and employees who have a medical report or certificate approved by the official health authorities in the country indicating that they cannot receive the COVID-19 vaccine due to their health status, provided that the Federal Government Entity undertakes to conduct a Nasal Swab Test (PCR) for those exempted employees every 7 days.
Employees of outsourcing, public services companies etc. those companies that have contracts with Federal Government Entities (current and future) must conduct a nose swab examination (PCR) for their employees who are present, or who will be present on a daily basis in the workplace of a federal entity, every 7 days, at the expense of those contracting companies, with the exception of employees who have received the COVID-19 vaccine.
The circular also covers employees of outsourcing, public services companies, expert houses, etc. In the event of contracting with these companies. In the event of contracting with these companies by the federal entities, and if their employees are required to visit the federal entity’s premises, to attend meetings, discussions and other tasks according to the contract, the Federal Government entity must ensure that the employees of these companies present a valid nasal swab test result for a period of no more than 3 days, except for employees who have received the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources urged all ministries and federal entities to encourage their employees and workers to take COVID-19 vaccine..