The Cabinet has decided to formulate a special rule to facilitate the return of nurses and health workers who have been absent from service for various reasons.

Principal Secretary to the President on Public Policy Abdullah Nazim Ibrahim told a news conference at the President's Office today that the decision was taken after discussing a paper submitted by the Health Ministry.

The scheme will be implemented through a special expedited recruitment process to give the opportunity to former health workers to enter the job market immediately, he said.

The decision will introduce flexible working hours and allow those who want to work less than eight hours to go to work and will be paid according to the time they work, he said. The changes are to be reflected in the civil service act as well.

Workers who have already retired will also be able to work on contract basis under the rules, he said.

He said the Health Ministry would provide further details on how the work would be done under its mandate. Policies will be formulated taking into account those who have not come to work from rural areas, he said.