UAE announces four-day work week for some employees

Abu Dhabi: The government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a four-day work week for federal government employees, with three days off on weekends, effective July 1, 2023.

this Federal Government Office of Human Resources Employees can choose to complete their set weekly hours over four days — working no more than 10 hours a day or 40 hours a week — as part of an intensive work schedule known as a compressed workweek, the company said.

In this case, the employee has a three-day weekend.

The new measures are based on Cabinet Resolution No. 48 of 2023 published on the authority’s website this week.

The shift to a “compressed work week” is one of five working models outlined in the UAE’s new government employee human resources law.

The five working modes are

The employee performs duties at a designated work place or branch of the organization during official working hours

• Working remotely within the UAE

Under the provisions of the telework law issued by the Council of Ministers, employees are required to work or perform their job duties outside the office but within the country.

The law is based on a proposal by the federal government’s Human Resources Administration, and workers will be paid under the Telework Act.

• Working Remotely Outside the UAE

Employees are required to work or perform their job duties abroad and be paid by law.

• Intensive working hours (compressed work week)

In some cases, an employee may work intensively, causing him to complete the contracted hours in fewer working days. Under this work model, an Emirati employee will work a maximum of 10 hours a day for four consecutive days.

This model includes a mix of office work and remote work.

The new human resources law aims to develop a flexible working model that will help establish the future human resource management model and improve government efficiency.

The Human Resources Act also identifies four different work models