Civil Service Commission (CSC) has instructed government offices to formulate a plan to provide its services with a minimal number of staff in case the situation of COVID-19 in Maldives becomes more severe. CSC asked all government offices to submit the plan to the commission before March 16.
Government offices have also been instructed to formulate an emergency response plan in collaboration with Health Protection Agency (HPA) which states how the institution will proceed if a staff is found with COVID-19 symptoms. The emergency response plan is also to be submitted before March 16.
CSC has issued the standard operations procedure (SOP) for government institutions to follow in regards to COVID-19. The SOP states government employees showing symptoms of COVID-19 while the country is on yellow alert must be given the opportunity to stay home with salary and benefits until it is safe to return to work.
CSC has also instructed government offices to suspend all training programmes and conferences until further notice. Any urgent meetings must be conducted via teleconferencing or other online facilities. In addition, all state employees who are pregnant, over 55 years old or immuno-compromised must be granted a special leave of 30 days upon request if the alert level of Maldives changes to orange.
Under a red alert, government offices are required to work with a minimal number of employees, granting others an emergency leave with salary and benefits. Government offices are also required to make arrangements for employees to work from home during such a situation.