All institutions under the Public Services Commission have been directed to immediately provide flexible working hours to all public workers. This is part of measures by the Commission to deal with the spread of novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19.
The Commission has asked the institutions to adopt measures such as shifts and annual leaves to reduce the number of workers reporting to the office.
In a memo, the Commission also suggested that non-essential employees such as National Service personnel and interns should be asked to stay home during this period.
Prioritise health
The memo said, “public service organizations should prioritize the health of public officers, the clients, as well as the general public above any other considerations.”
“This should be done while ensuring that business continuity plans are put in place and operational in order to provide continuous delivery of valuable services to meet their organizational mandates and goals,” the Commission added.
The Commission further urged all organisations to prepare their business continuity plans, taking into considerations some adjustments with leave options and working hours, and submit the plans to the heads of the various services.
In another development, the Office of the Auditor-General has suspended the collection of the Assets and Liabilities Declaration Forms in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The Office, in a statement signed by its Assistant Director of the Public Relations, Ama Awotwe-Bosumafi, said it regrets any inconvenience the suspension would cause to its stakeholders and office holders.
“We advise all public office holders, in the interim, to ensure that all forms in their possession are completed in accordance with Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution and the Public Office Holders Declaration of Assets and Disqualification Act 1998, (Act 550),” it said.
It said the Service would announce to the public in due course when the completed forms could be submitted and those yet to pick their forms could do so.
