The General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic confirmed that the increase in government working hours by one hour aims to provide more time to complete tasks and improve coordination, alongside developing management methods and simplifying procedures, and does not necessarily indicate a weakness in employee performance, as challenges are also linked to the volume of tasks, administrative procedures, and available resources. Reliance can be placed on completion and backlog data available at institutions to determine the size of the problem accurately.
The General Secretariat clarified in a statement to SANA that the extra hour is expected to contribute to increasing the capacity to complete transactions and reducing waiting periods, with the extent of improvement varying according to the nature of each institution and its services. Each entity is responsible for determining and measuring target results by comparing the number of transactions completed daily, the average time to complete a transaction, and the volume of accumulated files before and after the implementation of the decision, making the extension of working hours a commitment to improving performance, not merely a change in attendance hours.
Organizing the Reception of Citizens and Service Submission Times
Regarding the reception of citizens, the General Secretariat indicated that the needs of service institutions vary according to the nature of their work and the volume of referents. The principle is that entities benefit from the extension of working hours to improve services, either by increasing reception hours for citizens or by allocating additional time to complete transactions requiring internal work. It pointed out that each entity is responsible for choosing the mechanism that achieves the best possible service, while clearly announcing referent reception times and ensuring the new timing reflects on the speed of completion and reduced waiting.
Determining Administrative and Economic Entities Covered by the Decision
It mentioned that administrative entities include public institutions and units that perform governmental, regulatory, and service functions, while economic entities include public institutions and establishments that engage in productive, commercial, or operational activities according to their own regulations. The legal status of each entity is determined based on its establishment charter and the legislation governing its work. It considered it important to issue an official clarification specifying the entities covered by the unified system and those subject to special arrangements, to prevent any ambiguity in application.
Flexibility in Organizing Working Hours in Economic Entities
The Secretariat clarified that economic entities require operational flexibility due to the differing nature of production and services, and the existence of establishments working on shift systems or around the clock. This flexibility includes organizing start and end times of work and distributing shifts, while determining individual working hours by increase or decrease is subject to the legislation and systems specific to each entity. The administrations of these institutions are responsible for using flexibility to achieve the best possible productivity, while respecting the legal rights of workers.
Authorities to Determine Working Hours and Announce Arrangements
The General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic pointed out that the competent administration in each economic entity is responsible for preparing working hour arrangements suitable for the nature of its activity, in coordination with the supervising authority and according to the authorities specified in effective legislation and systems. Instructions should include work times, shifts, breaks, and service provision mechanisms, and should be announced to workers and referents well in advance before implementation begins. The authority to organize working hours is coupled with the administration's responsibility for the efficiency of the arrangements it adopts and their results.
Workers' Rights and Special Circumstances
Regarding employee rights, the General Secretariat clarified that workers' rights regarding salaries, compensation, breaks, and leaves remain subject to effective legislation. Implementing the decision requires clarifying the legal status of the extra hour, whether it falls within the official working hours or requires special handling in some entities. It emphasized that breaks should be organized in proportion to the new attendance duration, and relevant financial and administrative instructions should be announced in a unified and clear manner.
Regarding special cases, the General Secretariat indicated that effective management requires considering the different human and living conditions of workers, especially those with health conditions, childcare or elderly care responsibilities, and those facing exceptional difficulties in commuting. It affirmed that these cases can be addressed through flexible administrative arrangements, such as organizing attendance times, distributing tasks, or utilizing available legal exceptions. Administrations are responsible for balancing work requirements with workers' circumstances, thereby maintaining productivity and job stability.
Calculating the Operational Cost of Extra Working Hours
The Secretariat pointed out that increasing operating hours requires calculating the additional cost, including energy, heating, transportation, and support services, and comparing it with the expected return from improved productivity and faster task completion. This cost varies between institutions according to their size and nature of activity. It indicated that each entity is responsible for rationalizing expenses and organizing resources, so that the extra hour achieves productive and service value commensurate with its cost, justifying the public resources used for it.
Reviewing the Decision and Evaluating Its Results After Three Months
It mentioned that periodic evaluation is an essential part of results-based management, and an initial review of the decision can be conducted after three months of implementation, in coordination between the Ministry of Administrative Development and concerned entities, to measure its impact on productivity, service quality, operational cost, and the satisfaction of employees and citizens. The Secretariat confirmed that each institution is responsible for providing clear data on its performance, enabling the announcement of basic results to public opinion and identifying aspects that achieved their goals and procedures that need development.
The General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic had issued a decision last Monday stipulating the determination of official daily working hours for public entities of an administrative nature from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, starting from 1/12/2026.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
Comments (0)