‘Over 10,000 public sector workers on unpaid leave’

AMMAN — Over 10,000 public sector employees are currently on unpaid leave, with a majority working in the Gulf Arab countries in the education and health sectors, an official said Sunday.

As unpaid leaves help employees improve their living conditions and increase foreign currency remittances, the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) has recently amended the civil service by-law to allow leave-takers to work abroad for longer periods, said CSB President Khalaf Hmeisat.

Previously, the allowed leave could not exceed 10 years, while under the recent amendment it became unlimited, he explained.

Furthermore, the CSB recommended that the Civil Service Council increase the appointment rate of replacements for workers on unpaid leave from 60 to 80 per cent.

Commenting on whether there is a limit on the number of employees allowed to take unpaid leave in a certain department, the official said approving or rejecting the leave is up to the director of the department.

"Any employee willing to go on an unpaid leave to work abroad must submit their contracts to the heads of their departments, who will, in turn, address the CSB for a replacement," he said.

Hmeisat noted that some public sector employees take leave for educational purposes or due to sickness, while others travel with their spouses.

Despite the advantages of unpaid leaves, they could have a negative effect on workers' career advancement and benefits.

The official noted that those on unpaid leave do not progress on the employment scale at their home agencies. For example, a worker who takes leave while in a fifth-category job returns to the same category.

Another dilemma faces those under the civil service retirement system, which requires workers to spend the entire duration of their service in their government job. 

However, workers under the social security system, who constitute the majority, can continue to pay their dues to the Social Security Corporation while abroad.