Muscat: The Ministry of Labour (MoL) on Wednesday issued a decision to implement a ‘flexible duty’ system of operation of Units of the State’s Administrative Apparatus (public sector departments) governed by the Civil Service Law and its Executive Regulation, so that their daily duty is carried out in two overlapping shifts equivalent to five hours, each, during Ramadhan 1443 AH.

Accordingly, an employee can attend office from 8 am to 1 pm (first shift) or from 9 am to 2 pm (second shift).

The decision mandates public sector units to regulate the attendance of their respective employees during the two shifts in a manner that ensures the smooth flow of work and good quality of services rendered to the public.

Many people, especially employees, complained about huge traffic congestion in some streets of the Governorate of Muscat, whether the main street (Sultan Qaboos) or the Expressway.

The crowding grows during office hours in the morning and when traveling back in the afternoon, witnessing long lines of vehicles in all directions in the capital city.

Through various social media platforms, motorists have called on the authorities to find necessary solutions to alleviate this congestion, especially during Ramadhan and calling on the concerned authorities to take quick measures to reduce the time spent on the streets while traveling to workplaces.