Barely a day before the commencement of the new official government working days and hours, the Office of the President last evening announced that the private sector and the business community are exempted from this new working arrangement.
A press release from the presidency said the private sector and business community are, therefore, allowed to open for business on Fridays.
According to the release, this new dispensation includes banks, hospitals and health care providers, Gambia Ports Authority, Gambia Revenue Authority, and the security services, among others.
The release also reminded the public that the new official government working schedule is Mondays to Thursdays from 8:00am to 6:00pm, and lunch break is authorized between 1:30pm to 2:30pm.
The release further urged all permanent secretaries and heads of departments to bring this information to the attention of all staff, and to stringently adhere to the new working arrangements and that staff must come to work and leave at the prescribed times.
It also reminded heads of departments to reinforce the staff attendance register and regularly monitor lateness and absenteeism in line with PSC Regulation 62 and the General Orders (GO) 03112.
Meanwhile, the presidency also announced yesterday that President Yahya Jammeh has reassigned Fatou Ndeye Gaye as Minister of the Environment, Parks and Wildlife with effect from Wednesday 30th January 2013.
A press release also from the presidency said the portfolio of Forestry is now under the purview of the Office of the President.
