A new circular has been issued addressing the leave approval process for government officials who found themselves stranded abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic and were unable to return due to ongoing travel restrictions.
Issued by the Secretary of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, and Local Government, the circular provides guidelines for managing the leave of officials unable to resume work on their scheduled return dates due to pandemic-related circumstances.
According to the circular, Secretaries to the Ministries, Provincial Chief Secretaries, and Department Heads are instructed to adhere to the procedures outlined in the Establishment Code when considering requests for unpaid and paid leave from affected government officials.
Furthermore, the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration has mandated the issuance of resignation notices to all government employees who have failed to report to work without formal approval for leave.
This circular aims to streamline the process for handling leave requests from officials impacted by the pandemic, ensuring consistency and adherence to established regulations while also addressing the administrative challenges posed by prolonged absences during these unprecedented times.
