Abu Dhabi activates remote work system for government employees

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Remote work system, employees, work, job, employees

To ensure the smoothness and efficiency of all procedures, in order to accelerate the digital transformation.

by

Ismail Sebugwaawo

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Published: Thu 12 Mar 2020, 7:23 AM

Last updated: Fri 13 Mar 2020, 1:14 AM

Employees of government departments in Abu Dhabi, including mothers, senior citizens and those with respiratory problems will be working from home beginning next week as authorities step up measures to contain the spread of coronavirus.
The Abu Dhabi government on Thursday announced that it has activated the "remote work" system for some of its employees, given government's advanced technical system and technological readiness. This is to ensure the smoothness and efficiency of all procedures, in order to accelerate the digital transformation.

"Enhancing the series of preventative and precautionary measures taken by the government to ensure the safety and health of its human resources, "remote work" is focused on senior citizens, working mothers and employees who suffer from chronic diseases and respiratory symptoms," said a statement from the Abu Dhabi Government.
The executive committee of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council also issued a resolution forming the Higher Committee of Digital Government, chaired by Ali Rashid Al Ketbi, Chairman of the Department of Government Support.
"The committee will be responsible for activating the governance of the digital transformation. This will enhance the digital government ecosystem," officials said.
Last week, authorities said efforts were under way in cooperation with various federal government institutions to ensure readiness for distance work from home.
Seif Jumah Al Dhahiri, official spokesperson for the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said: "Various institutions are discussing with their employees to see how distance working or work from home can be conducted," he said.
Al Dhahiri noted that the authority, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, has already succeeded in implementing the distance learning initiative for students following the announcement to suspend schools for four weeks for the safety of students.
"This is really a good precautionary measure especially for the old people and the ill because they have weak immune systems. It's good that they work from home for their protection and to prevent them from interacting with public," said Khalid Waheed working for a government department.
Emirati mother, Amna Nasser said working from home will enable her look after her kids who are in the spring break since she's been leaving them with the housemaids.
"I understand I'm allowed to work from home starting from next week as our HR has indicated," said Nasser working for a public department in Abu Dhabi.
"Besides protecting us from the risks of having close contact with other people as my job involves attending to customers, the initiative will help me monitor my children who will be having classes through the distance learning programme."
She said their department is already digitalised and that all the necessary technologies are in place and can enable everyone wok from anywhere and deliver good services.
UAE authorities have always reminded the public to be extra cautious, follow precautionary measures from health authorities including maintaining good hygiene in all places of work and in homes, to wash hands with water and soap, cover the nose and mouth when sneezing, avoid close contacts with people and public assemblies, not to shake or great others with hands and to limit traveling outside the country unless when necessary.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com


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