The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) recently held two virtual training workshops, to discuss the most important efforts made upon the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to protect workflow in the Federal Government, as well as ensure continued service provision in ministries and federal entities.
In the meantime, the Authority explained the implementation mechanisms for the Authority’s Circular No. (3) for 2021, recently sent to all ministries and federal entities, regarding updating measures to address the challenges arising from COVID-19 pandemic at the Federal Government level.
In this regard, Hamad Bu Amim, Director of Policies and Legal Affairs Department at the Authority, explained that the two workshops saw remarkable interaction by HR directors and employees of ministries and federal entities, as than 1,100 employees followed them.
He added: “The workshops highlighted the tireless efforts made by the Authority during 2020, specifically after the implementation of remote work system, to ensure that the ministries and federal entities continue to provide their services to customers, and also to ensure that the Authority provides all its services to Federal Government employees and the public through various electronic and smart channels.”
Bu Amim explained that the workshops also explained the mechanisms for implementing the Authority’s Circular No. (3) of 2021, which stipulated the amendment of some measures to address the COVID- 19 pandemic at the Federal Government level, in order to ensure the provision of a safe work environment in the workplaces of ministries and federal entities for employees, customers and suppliers.
He said: “The procedures contained in Circular No (3) are effective as of January 24, 2021, and the Federal Government employees are required to undergo nasal swab (PCR) every 7 days, in the event that they have not received the two doses of COVID- 19 vaccine. These procedures have been implemented in response to the UAE Government’s directives to combat Coronavirus, limit its spread, and protect employees’ health in a safe work environment.
“As for the employees of ministries and federal entities, they must undergo a nasal swab test (PCR) every 7 days; at the employee's own expense, except for those who have received the two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. However, employees who have a medical report approved by official health authorities in the country indicating that they cannot receive the COVID-19 vaccine due to their health status are exempted from this condition. In this case, the concerned federal entity undertakes to conduct a nasal swab test (PCR) for this group of employees every 7 days."
He added that all outsourcing companies, public services companies, etc, contracted with by Federal Government entities, must conduct nasal swab test (PCR) for their employees who are or will be present on a daily basis at the entity’s workplace, every 7 days, at the expense of those contracted companies, with the exception of employees who have received the two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
The circular covered the employees of consulting, expertise, etc firms. In the event of contracting with these companies by the federal entities, and if their employees are required to visit the federal entity’s workplace, 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 examination result for the nasal swab (PCR) for a period of no more than 3 days, except for employees who have received the two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.