Flexible hours plan lets civil servants start work at 11am: PS Tagicakirewa

Civil servants stuck in the Nausori – Suva corridor traffic could soon start work at 11am and make up the hours later.

This comes as Government prepares to roll out flexible working hours across the civil service by December.

Ministry of Civil Service permanent secretary Pita Tagicakirewa told a parliamentary committee yesterday that the policy was being piloted in five to six ministries.

It would be tabled before the Public Service Commission in April for review before a full rollout.

“When someone staying in Nausori is going to arrive late to work, 9am, 10, 11am, we allow that person to start work at 11am, but they make it up after hours,” he said.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka first announced the plan in Parliament on March 9, saying flexible hours would improve productivity and work-life balance.

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs heard the update during a submission by the Ministry of Civil Service on its 2022– 2023 Annual Report.

The policy is seen as a direct response to worsening traffic congestion, particularly along the Nausori-Suva corridor, which has disrupted the working day for thousands of civil servants.

Fiji currently employs more than 30,000 civil servants; it is the country’s largest workforce.