Public service workers will be allowed to work remotely as from October under a newly launched policy for remote working, which was launched on Wednesday.
The policy follows a pilot project which started in 2019 and ran throughout the Covid-19 outbreak as well.
“This policy will offer full flexibility to Public Service employees to carry out their work from different places beyond their formal office, on a regular basis”, the office of the Principal Permanent Secretary, who heads the public service, said in a statement.
While the policy enters into force from 1st October 2021, there will be a transition period of 18 months to shift from the existing teleworking system to the new remote working policy. This will enable the necessary changes in equipment and training to take place.
Principal Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar said this policy is the result of several months of work. “We first set a pilot project, then analysed the work performance during the COVID pandemic, and then a specially-appointed working group enabled this policy to be drawn up. I firmly believe this policy will continue to affirm the Public Service credentials as a key leader in the country on work-life balance”, said Cutajar.
The policy launched on Wednesday will make it possible to switch both individuals and entire sections and departments to work remotely.
The Remote Working Policy also introduces guidance to ensure professional standards in service provision, data protection, employee wellbeing and use of technological equipment, as well as to safeguard laws, policies and sectoral agreements currently in force.
The policy will also be embracing the principle of the right to disconnect.
Specific training on both management and technological aspects will be provided by the Institute for Public Services to employees and head of departments, to increase access to this new system of operation within the Public Service.
The Remote Working Policy is available on the Public Service website: https://publicservicecms.gov.mt/en/Documents/Public Service Management Code/Remote_Working_Policy.pdf