Govt offices closing Dec 24

The National National

By HELEN TARAWA
GOVERNMENT departments and agencies will close for the Christmas holidays on Tuesday Dec 24.
They will re-open on Thursday Jan 2, according to acting secretary of the Department of Personnel Management Taies Sansan.
Sansan warned all public servants to report for duties on Jan 2, 2020.
“This circular instruction applies to all departments, provincial administrations and office of the National Public Service. Department heads and provincial administrators are required to inform their staff of the arrangements contained herein.
“The heads of other state services and statutory authorities are to take note of the holiday arrangements described hereunder and to determine the applicability of these arrangements in their own organisations, provided that essential and emergency services are maintained for the government and public at all times,” she said.
The final normal working day is Monday, Dec 23.
The first normal working day is Thursday Jan 2, 2020.
Classified as days off are Tuesday Dec 24, Friday Dec 27, Monday Dec 30, Tuesday Dec 31. The public holidays are Dec 25, Dec 26 and Jan 1.
The four paid shutdown days are Tuesday Dec 24 to Friday Dec 27.
Sansan said Monday Dec 30 and Tuesday Dec 31 were not leave days and should not be accrued if not taken.
“They are allocated for the convenience of closing Government offices. Staff who are required to work to cater for essential and emergency services and rostered work arrangements will not be paid overtime, but will be awarded with a paid day off at a future date.
“These days are not to be treated as accrued leave days and if not taken are forfeited,” she said.
Sansan said public hospitals, police, Correctional Service, Defence Force, public utilities and other organisations providing essential and emergency services would stay open.
They will make their own arrangements to cater for essential and emergency services during the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
The Department of Finance, and Immigration and Citizenship Authority will continue to work as normal under the arrangements.