KUWAIT CITY, May 28, (Agencies): The Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) has reached an agreement with the chief executive officers of banks on the full resumption of business in the banking sector after the revoking of the total curfew; hence, all services suspended since the implementation of the +partial curfew, including the financing services for individuals, will recommence.

Sources disclosed that CBK recently held preparatory meetings with local banks to prepare for the return of business in the banking sector from gradual to full operations.

Sources said it was agreed, in principle, that banks will initially operate for five hours in the main buildings where the employees will be divided into two teams.

The first team will work from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, and the other team from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm; provided the number of employees in the bank buildings does not exceed 50 percent of the total workforce and the other half should work from home, sources said.

Sources clarified each bank is free to organize the division of its employees -- those who will work in the offices and those who will work from home, and then reshuffle the teams; such that those who will work from home within a certain period will work in the offices in the next period and vice versa. On the working hours of bank branches, sources revealed the employees will work from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm while the clients will be served from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, sources revealed.

Sources confirmed that instructions will be issued permanently according to the rules laid down for this purpose, in line with the decisions of the Council of Ministers and directives of health authorities.

Meanwhile, Kuwait Civil Service Commission published guidelines for public sector personnel and executives on how to resume work gradually for paving the way toward full resumption of duties “in the coming period.”

The four-chapter guidelines booklet sets objectives of policies, measures and rules for phased resumption of work, in addition to mechanisms for gradual work hours, as well as how to perform and act various sectors on part of personnel and service applicants.

It also mentions public safety requirements, terms, preventive and precautionary measures that must be adhered to by personnel and people seeking services in various departments and sectors.

Moreover, it touches on some professional and financial rules, in light of prospected circumstances for facing the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), along with instructions to abide by precautionary measures set by relevant health authorities.

The Civil Service Commission noted in the brochure necessity to ensure uninterrupted work in the public sector and necessity of working out a mechanism that ensures phased resumption of work that conforms with the current crisis and surrounding circumstances

There is a need, its notes in part, for providing multiple work options and shifts’ systems, along with ensuring public safety, maintaining health of the employees, the citizens and the residents, in addition to full abidance by the precautionary and preventive measures.

In the first phase, it says, some employees should be relieved of work and granted “rest days,” including the pregnant, mothers nursing babies, employees who suffer from some illnesses, the handicapped, those aged above 55 -- except for those serving as leaders or supervisors. Some work can be done by long distance (online), at home partially or fully, it says, noting necessity to keep social distancing among the employees at work places.