Public Service opens first remote workspace

Principle Permanent Secretary, Mario Cutajar, has inaugurated the first remote workspace for the Public Service.

Mr Cutajar said studies have shown that Public Service staff desire to continue working remotely, but still prefer to leave home. He said  by the end of 2021, there will be “about 15 remote workspaces functioning.”

The facilities launched are “not only convenient and comfortable, but it is simple to book spaces in them, and they are equipped with the best technology.”

The new facilities are part of a new Public Service strategy that will enter into force in 2022, one identifying Public Service employees as a key pillar alongside technology and a high level of service.

Mr Cutajar said the new measures could not have been possible without the Public Service’s €150 million investment in technology in recent years, equipping officials with laptops and plug-and-play devices.

Analysis of the first phase of the pandemic, a Government statement reads, has shown how flexibility awarded through the Public Service’s investment led to increased motivation when working from home among public sector employees. There were also positive effects on traffic and the environment, giving the employees more time, and increasing their productivity.

The provision of specific training for all workers who will work remotely as well as their management is an absolute priority, according to Mr Cutajar.

The first space is located in Santa Venera and can be used by employees within the Ministry for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development.

Main photo: DOI – Omar Camilleri