Amendments have been introduced to the pay framework standards to prevent misuse of overtime payments and ensure fair compensation for Government employees.

The revised standards aim to address inconsistencies in service delivery across Government agencies, where variations in work schedules have led to unequal workloads and idle hours among employees. The amendments also seek to establish clear and fair working hours that balance employee welfare with effective public service delivery.

Under the new framework, overtime pay will be applicable for work beyond eight hours or beyond the official hours determined by an agency. Public holidays, including working days from the 20th of Ramadan until the end of the month, and days declared as public holidays by the President’s Office after the 22nd of this month, will also qualify for overtime pay.

The amendment clarifies that personal time spent outside the workplace will not count towards the standard eight-hour workday. However, meal breaks, prayer times, and childcare hours specified in the Employment Act are exempted from this rule.

The updated standards further emphasise that overtime hours should not disrupt Government services and that employees in similar roles must be given equal opportunities. Overtime work may be granted where appropriate, taking into account individual living conditions.

The amendments, which have come into effect following their publication in the Government Gazette, are designed to ensure that overtime payments reach their rightful recipients. The Government has assured that no employee will face pay reductions as a result of the new framework, and that special allowances will be provided if any employee’s salary decreases due to the changes.