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The UAE is cutting its working week to four-and-a-half days

The UAE is cutting its working week to four-and-a-half days
Dec 7 2021 Share

The United Arab Emirates is officially cutting its working week to four-and-a-half days. It is also moving its weekend from Friday-Saturday to Saturday-Sunday. 

This aims at improving the country’s competitiveness, say officials. The national working week will be mandatory for government bodies as of January 1st of 2022 and bucks the regional norm of full day offs on Friday for Muslim prayers. This will also bring the resource-rich UAE into line with the non-Arab world as it will become the only Gulf state not to have a Friday-Saturday weekend.

Before this new timetable commences, the public sector weekend starts at noon on Fridays and ends on Sunday. Muslim prayers at Mosques will be held after 1:15pm all year round. The UAE is the First Nation in the world to introduce a national working week shorter than the global five-day week. The UAE observed a Thursday-Friday weekend until 2006 before moving to Friday-Saturdays, followed by the private sector. 

It is said to ensure smooth financial trade and economic transactions and even facilitating international business links for thousands of UAE based and multinational companies. 

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The Digital Justice Strategy launches Malta into the future

Dec 7 2021 Share

Minister for Justice and Governance Edward Zammit Lewis launched the Digital Justice Strategy and Action Plan. Alongside the Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, he stated that an 18 month long journey stands testimony to their commitment towards making our justice system more efficient, effective, and accessible. 

The COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone out of their comfort zone and embrace technology ‘as a means to ensure that justice continues to be served.’ Despite the Maltese Justice System not being new to the digital sector, the adaptation of this new framework is a priority as it makes best use of technology, respects rule of law and identifies objectives. 

Investing in Digitalisation as the next major phase in the evolution of society, Malta is now in a unique position to forge the future of how justice will be served in the years to come. ‘This strategy provides a common vision and unites all justice entities in their efforts to embrace this transformation and without reserves, commit to the change process.’

Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said that this action plan for digital justice is an important process n which we can build several steps for the future. With an investment of around €300,000 co-financed with European Funds, the digitisation of the justice system will be improving the efficiency and facilitate access to justice for those going to court. 

‘The Robert Abela Administration will remain committed and renowned for the digital transformation and reforms carried out in the Justice system.’

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Photo Source: Gustizzja DOI

Will saying Happy Christmas at work become illegal? Dalli’s document explained

Dec 7 2021 Share

Helena Dalli, the European Commissioner for Equality, faced a substantial amount of criticism after a working document concerning communication guides for EU staff leaked to the press. People across the continent were utterly infuriated at the guidelines set by the document which, among other things encourage; 

Workers to avoid using ‘Happy Christmas where not everybody is Christian; to avoid addressing an audience as ladies and gentlemen; to stop using Mrs when addressing women and; to avoid using solely Christian names when bringing examples of people living in the EU. 

The outcry, with many stating that the document was muzzling their freedom of expression, led to Dalli withdrawing the document. She revealed that it is a work in progress and her office is taking note of concerns to update it. 

Even Dalli’s colleague Margaritis Schinas, the European Commissioner for European Way of Life, took a jab at Dalli, saying; ‘Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I hope we can still call you ladies and gentlemen in the commission.’ 

The Pope too issued a response to the document, going as far as to compare these actions as those carried out by Nazi dictatorships and communists. He told journalists on his flight back to Rome from Athens that the document was ‘watered-down secularism’. The Vatican leader said that we should be careful not to be vehicles of ideological colonisation and that is why the Christmas issue is an anachronism. 

However, the same was not said by Maltese MEP Cyrus Engerer who stood by Dalli’s document. He said that all of us need more information on how our language can be more inclusive. He said that the document doesn’t mean nobody can say Happy Christmas and asked whether the commission understands that ‘not everyone in Europe fits in and identifies as 1 of the 2 gender boxes in their minds.’ 


What do you make of all this?

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Strictly RnB is closing off 2021 with two massive Christmas & NYE events and we’re HYPED

Strictly RnB is closing off 2021 with two massive Christmas & NYE events and we’re HYPED
Dec 7 2021 Share

‘Tis the season for partying! December is a magical season for many reasons, from rekindling relationships with loved ones to celebrating the seasonal warmth with a piping hot glass of mulled wine and seasonal goodies… but that’s not all. This year, local event organisers Strictly RnB are back with a double bill of spectacular events to close off a busy year and we seriously can’t get enough.

The first one is Strictly RnB’s Christmas event, which is a regular in partygoers’ event calendars and will definitely take it up a notch this year with fan-favourite Classics Night at the mighty Sky Club in Paceville. Headlined by Pocci and welcoming Nikki VP, Nick C and Mizzi G, all DJs have been instructed to hit the club locked and loaded with all of their favourite classics from the late ’90s and ’00s. With early bird tickets gone almost immediately, tables sold out and very limited standard and VIP tickets left, the night is set to be a BANGER and we just can’t wait.

If that wasn’t enough, you can also close off 2021 in style with Strictly RnB Presents NYE, a Las Vegas-inspired spectacular which is sure to usher in the new year with the best vibes possible, The Strictly Way. The event, which will go down at the returning Aria Complex in San Gwann, promises loads of confetti, special FX, state of the art visuals and a unique VEGAS style countdown made specially for the Strictly RnB NYE Vegas show. Main man Pocci will take the stage with familiar names Nick C, Nikki VP and Mizzi G.

Tickets for both events are available from ticketarena.com.mt!

So grab your Santa hats, lock and load and as always… keep it Strictly.

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