KUWAIT CITY, April 2: On the first workday following Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr holiday, the ministries' complex appeared unusually quiet, with parking lots nearly empty. The situation in the government offices on Wednesday revealed that many employees had opted to extend their Eid break by merging it with their mid-week leave entitlements.

Attendance Rates

50% of employees reported on duty, ensuring that workflow remained smooth and uninterrupted, partly due to the low number of visitors. Office staff stated that absenteeism tends to rise on such occasions, as employees often take advantage of sick leave or casual leave—a right granted with prior approval from their superiors.

Authorities emphasized that teams are actively monitoring unauthorized absences across ministries and will hold negligent employees accountable, particularly those who leave their workplaces after signing in.

Excused vs. Unexcused Absences

Sources at the Ministry of Social Affairs revealed that 32% of absences were classified as authorized periodic leave, while 23% remain under review. These may later be reclassified as medical, emergency, or regular leave after completing due procedures. Absences without valid justification will be dealt with according to official regulations. Notably, senior ministry officials, including undersecretaries and directors, arrived early. Field observations showed varying attendance rates across departments, with some recording high turnout and others significantly low.

Schools: Teachers Present, Students Absent

Public school students across the country extended their Eid holiday on Wednesday, with most schools reporting widespread absenteeism despite teachers' attendance and prior warnings from administrations.

Sources revealed that mass absences are often coordinated through WhatsApp groups—whether parent, mother, or student-run. Some groups reportedly planned collective absences even before the Eid break began.

Absent students were marked accordingly in the attendance system, prompting some parents to submit sick leave requests for their children. The sources noted that this recurring issue demands further study and solutions.

They added that the fingerprint-based attendance system for teachers and administrators has helped improve staff punctuality.

Meanwhile, attendance at Kuwait University varied depending on the instructors. While some professors held classes as usual, others canceled Wednesday lectures, leaving students unable to attend.