The Ministry of Law has issued a stern warning to officials and employees regarding irregular office attendance, emphasising that late arrivals, unauthorised absences, and early departures without approval will invite disciplinary action.
In an office order released Monday, the Law and Justice Division referred to the Government Employees (Regular Attendance) Rules, 2019, declaring such attendance violations punishable offences.
The directive mandates that all staff must be present at their offices by 9am on working days, and leaving before the official closing hours is strictly prohibited.
During Ramadan, officials are not allowed to leave before 3:30pm, while after Ramadan, leaving prior to 5pm will be considered a violation.
Employees seeking to leave early for official or urgent matters must obtain prior approval from the head of their sub-division, either a Joint Secretary or Solicitor, and must record their departure in the office leaving register.
Digital attendance records must also be maintained in line with the 2019 rules.
The office order warned that any breach of these regulations will trigger disciplinary proceedings under both the Government Employees (Regular Attendance) Rules, 2019 and the Government Employees (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018.
The Ministry emphasised that the measures aim to ensure accountability, punctuality, and proper functioning of government offices across the country.
