The UHM has welcomed greater flexibility in the system of reduced hours for public sector employees.

To date, civil servants could worked reduced hours and get paid pro-rata. This incentive was geared towards parents who wanted to take care of their children.

The number of reduced hours was limited to 20 or 30 hours a week instead of 40.

Now, public officials can work 25 hours a week. Employees who work different hours every week owing to the nature of their job, now have the opportunity to work the equivalent of 50 per cent, 62.5 per cent or 75 per cent of their regular working hours.

The UHM said these changes strengthened the public service’s family-friendly policies.