Abu Dhabi, December 28: No compensatory off will be given in lieu of the New Year Day, which falls on Friday.
Minister of Education Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qutami, who is also President of Federal Human Resources Authority, told Khaleej Times, “The decision is in pursuance of the Cabinet Order No17 of 2009, on official holidays in federal government departments.”
“If an official holiday falls on a holiday, the employee is not entitled to take holiday in lieu of that day, nor he/she will be financially compensated, or be (the day) added to his/her annual leave balance, but can be taken as compensatory off day if the employee has worked on the day,” he explained.
“Accordingly, the New Year Holiday which will fall on Friday will not be compensated or another day is set to be taken as holiday in lieu of, and the week’s working day will be next Sunday for ministries and government departments.”
Private sector will continue working as per its ordinary working days, with Saturday as first working day for companies which work on Saturday, while other firms which work for five days a week, Sunday will be the first working day of the week, he said.
—Agencies