Legislation Details
- Full Title: Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government
- Law Type: Cabinet Resolution
- Law Number: 27 of 2020
- Issued Date: 02 Apr 2020
- Effective Date: 02 Apr 2020
- Official Gazette: No. 676
- Sector: Labour, Residency and Professions
- Status: Active
- Number of Articles: 34
- Chapters/Parts: 0
- Amendments: 0
Summary
This Cabinet Resolution establishes a remote work system for federal government employees in the United Arab Emirates. The law aims to provide flexible work options, attract and retain talent, reduce operational costs for federal entities, and enable government services outside of regular working hours. It sets out the criteria for determining suitable remote jobs, the process for selecting eligible employees, and the obligations of federal entities in implementing the remote work system. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 1-4) The resolution is significant for businesses and individuals in the UAE as it formalizes remote work arrangements in the federal public sector. This could lead to greater adoption of remote and flexible work practices across the UAE, impacting workforce management, real estate, and service delivery models. Employers and employees in the private sector may also reference this legislation when negotiating or implementing their own remote work policies. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 1-4)
What is the scope and purpose of this law?
The Cabinet Resolution applies to current and new national employees of federal government entities who are eligible for remote work, as determined by the entities in coordination with the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources. It establishes two types of remote work arrangements: part-time remote work, where employees divide their time between the office and a remote location, and full-time remote work, where the job can be performed entirely outside the official workplace. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 2-3) The key objectives of the resolution are to: provide flexible work options to achieve better work-life balance; attract and retain talented employees; reduce operational costs for federal entities; enable government services outside of regular working hours; and create new unconventional job roles. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 4)
What are the key definitions under this law?
The resolution provides the following key definitions:
- State: The United Arab Emirates
- Government: The UAE Government
- Cabinet: The Cabinet of the United Arab Emirates
- Federal Entity: Any ministry, federal body, institution or regulatory agency of the UAE Government
- Chairman of the Federal Entity: The Minister, Chairman of Board of Directors, CEO of the entity or equivalent
- Authority: Federal Authority for Government Human Resources
- Human Resources Law: Federal Decree-Law No. (11) for 2008 Concerning The Human Resources at the Federal Government and its amendments
- Executive Regulation: Executive Regulation of the Federal Government Human Resource Law
- Employee: Any person who occupies a budgeted job
- Manpower Budget: The budget adopted for the jobs and the ranks designated for the employees and their privileges
- Human Resources Department: Organisational unit concerned with human resources in a federal entity
- Salary and Grade Scales: Salary and grade scales for Federal Government employees as approved by the Cabinet Resolution
(Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 1)
What are the main obligations and requirements?
The Cabinet Resolution imposes the following key obligations on federal entities implementing the remote work system: 1. Identify an efficiency measurement mechanism and set standards, mechanisms and timeframes for each remote work activity and output. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 8(1)) 2. Ensure the availability of a safe technological environment to carry out remote work, with controls to maintain data privacy and confidentiality. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 8(2)) 3. Ensure the feasibility of implementing the remote work system within the entity. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 8(3)) 4. Provide an electronic method to monitor the performance, accomplishments and outputs of remote employees. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 8(4))
What licensing, registration, or approval requirements exist?
The legislation does not specify any licensing, registration or approval requirements for the remote work system. It states that the rules and mechanisms of the Remote Work System, as well as employment criteria contained in the Federal Government's HR Law and relevant regulations, shall apply to newly appointed remote employees. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 6(2))
What rights and protections does this law provide?
The Cabinet Resolution grants the following rights and protections to employees working remotely: 1. Employees working remotely are entitled to the same salaries, grade scales, and financial benefits as other federal government employees. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 11) 2. Remotely working employees are entitled to all leaves specified in the Federal Government's Human Resources Law and its executive regulations. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 15) 3. The provisions of the Federal Government's Human Resources Law, its executive regulations, and other related rules shall apply to any matter not provided for in this Resolution. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 16(2))
Which authorities or bodies are responsible for enforcement?
The Cabinet Resolution designates the following authorities and bodies responsible for the remote work system: 1. The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources is responsible for coordinating with federal entities on determining jobs suitable for remote work. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 5) 2. The Chairman of each federal entity is responsible for implementing the remote work system within their organization. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 1) 3. The Human Resources Department within each federal entity is responsible for managing the remote work arrangements of employees. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 1)
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The legislation does not specify any penalties for non-compliance with the remote work system.
What fees, charges, or financial provisions are specified?
The Cabinet Resolution states that the salary and grade scales for federal government employees working remotely shall be subject to the salary and grade scales approved for the Federal government employees as issued by the Cabinet Resolution. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 11)
What exemptions or exceptions apply?
The legislation does not provide any exemptions or exceptions to the remote work system. It applies to all current and new national employees of federal government entities who are deemed eligible by their respective entities. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 2)
How are disputes resolved under this law?
The Cabinet Resolution does not specify any dispute resolution mechanisms related to the remote work system. It states that the provisions of the Federal Government's Human Resources Law, its executive regulations, and other related rules shall apply to any matter not provided for in this Resolution. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 16(2))
What are the key deadlines and time limits?
The Cabinet Resolution includes the following key deadlines and time limits: 1. New employees appointed under the remote work system shall be placed on a probationary period of 6 months, renewable for an additional 3 months. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 10) 2. The legislation does not specify any other deadlines or time limits.
How does this law interact with other UAE legislation?
The Cabinet Resolution references the following related UAE legislation: 1. Federal Law No. (1) of 1972, concerning the Competencies of Ministries and Powers of the Ministers, as amended. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Preamble) 2. Federal Law by Decree-Law No. (11) for 2008 Concerning the Human Resources at the Federal Government, as amended. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Preamble, Art. 9, 13, 15, 16(2)) 3. Cabinet Resolution No. (12) of 2012 endorsing Performance Management System for Federal Government Employees, as amended. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Preamble, Art. 12) 4. Cabinet Resolution No. (23) of 2012 endorsing Salary Scales in the Federal Government. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Preamble, Art. 11) 5. Cabinet Resolution No. (1) of 2018 on the Executive Regulation of the Federal Decree-Law No. (11) of 2008 Concerning the Human Resources at the Federal Government, as amended. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Preamble)
When did this law come into effect?
The Cabinet Resolution on the Remote Work System in the Federal Government came into force on the date of its issuance, which was 02 April 2020. It was published in the Official Gazette No. 676 on 15 April 2020. (Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government, 2020, Art. 17)
Source Documents
This article analyses Cabinet Resolution On the Remote Work System in the Federal Government for legal research and educational purposes. For the purpose of interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text prevails. This does not constitute legal advice.