Sansan explains why civil servants given paid days off

By HELEN TARAWA
PERSONNEL Management secretary Taies Sansan says the end-of-year shutdown is a normal Christmas and New Year break for public servants.
Sansan told The National that the practice had been in force for years as part of an agreement between the State and public servants.
“Every year, the Public Service Minister would declare (the dates of) the shutdown for the festive season,” she said.
“The shutdown days are normally three days or four paid days off. When you add on the public holidays plus weekends, it goes to almost two weeks.”
The shutdown will begin on Dec 24 and all will be required to return to work on Jan 4.
The four paid shutdown days are Dec 28, Dec 29, Dec 30 and Dec 31.
Sansan clarified that these four days were not leave days and would not be accrued if not taken.
She said officers required to work to cater for essential and emergency services and rostered work arrangements would be paid overtime.
They would be given paid days off later.
Treasury secretary Dairi Vele said the public accounts would close on Dec 14 and expected to reopen on Jan 4.