The Dubai Executive Council has approved a part-time work system, which will be adopted by all departments of the government of Dubai, said a news report.

The new work system, a voluntary choice for individuals, is aimed at improving the skills and productivity of employees.

Employees who want to switch to part-time would be paid on an hourly basis, reports Khaleej Times, but will lose out on annual performance incentives, air tickets, paid leaves and pubic holidays.

A top official on Sunday said the government was open to expanding the new part-time work system to include expatriates at a later stage.

Director of Strategic Government HR of the government of Dubai, Dr Ahmed Waarie said, the move could be extended to expatriates after meeting the requirements of the government and tracking the needs of the nationals.

"The new system would be on a one-year experiment, following which it may be extended to expatriates in line with the government’s needs and levels of emiratisation in all the sectors," Waarie explained.

"A federal law streamlining a similar work system was issued last week and will take effect four months later," he added.

“The new system is meant to develop and make maximum use of the nationals’ skills and experience. It is an advantage for the employees who are unable to work full time. They might be bound to look after their children or sick parents,” he said.

Housewives may work following the approval of the department they want to work in. A full-time employee may even turn into a part-time employee with the department’s approval.

Ahmad Bin Bayat, DEC secretary general, said the system is part of the Dubai government’s plans to develop work at the governmental sector in line with the Dubai Strategic plan 2015.

“Though part-time employees would receive wages on an hourly-basis, they would be granted a 20 per cent increment in compensation to the allowances they are not eligible for such as annual incentives, air tickets and paid leave. However, they still can maintain health insurance and pension benefits given to UAE nationals,” he explained.

Part-timers are bound to fulfil the same role of the full-timers. They are also eligible to receive training in the UAE and abroad with equal allowances.