The UHM Voice of the Workers has instructed public sector and public service employees who have children aged 12 and under and who have nobody to look after them during working hours to work from home.

This decision has been taken in the light of the manner in which the COVID-19 measures announced in recent days are being implemented, the union said.

The union welcomed the measures issued on Wednesday as they help to restrain the spread of the pandemic, but said it is “disappointed by the half-baked approach in which these directives are being applied for parents.”

Consequently, the union has declared an industrial dispute with the Government and has issued the following directives which shall come into force on Monday 15 March:

• Parents of children 12 years of age or younger, who have nobody to look after them while at work, should work from home. This is only applicable to one parent and not in cases whereby another parent is available to look after the child. The directive applies on school days and is also extended on those days on which children are registered to attend Klabb 3-16.

• Employees at educational institutions whose duties can be done by remote working, will be directed to work from home.

• Pregnant women, even if they are front liners, will be directed to work from home.

These directives shall remain in force until April 11 or until changes to the restrictions, the union said.

In a right of reply, the Permanent Secretary said:

"Attention must be brought to the fact that, more than a week ago—on the 4th of March 2021—the Principal Permanent Secretary issued a directive which stated that all public sector workers whose work does not need to be done from the office should work via teleworking.

"This is applicable to both those who are vulnerable and those who are not considered as such. The directive of the Head of the Public Service is applicable to all.

"This means that that which the UĦM announced a short while ago is unnecessary as it has already been in effect for a number of days.

"As recently as yesterday, the Principal Permanent Secretary and all the Permanent Secretaries were discussing how to continue to ensure—in the current circumstances—the delivery of services to clients despite the fact that most of the work must be done via teleworking.

"Even though the Principal Permanent Secretary’ s directive has already been issued publicly and is easily accessible, for the benefit of UĦM and everyone else, this same directive is being attached with this reply."