Civil Service Regulations have been amended to introduce a 30-minute buffer period for employees who are unable to report to work on time due to special circumstances.

The amendment, published in the Government Gazette yesterday, allows civil servants to adjust their working hours without obtaining prior permission if they arrive within 30 minutes of their official start time.

Employees using the buffer period must inform their office's human resources section and explain the reason for their late arrival.

Under the new rule, working hours will be extended by the amount of time an employee arrives late. For example, an employee whose workday starts at 8:00 a.m. but arrives at 8:15 a.m. will finish work at 2:15 p.m. to complete the required working hours.

The regulation states that arrivals beyond the 30-minute buffer period will not qualify for adjusted working hours, and the delay will be recorded accordingly.