KUWAIT: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Acting Chairman of the Civil Service Commission Sharida Al-Maousherji issued a decision on Friday mandating the use of biometric systems, including facial recognition, to record employees’ attendance, presence and departure during official working hours.

Employees must clock in within 60 minutes following the first two hours of their shift and again at the end of the day. Employers have the discretion to integrate additional electronic means alongside the facial recognition system to suit their operational needs. The Civil Service Bureau is also granted the authority to set alternative times for biometric verification based on the specific circumstances and requirements of various departments.

The new policy sparked considerable debate on social media. Opinions are divided, with some supporting the move to enhance efficiency, while others raise concerns about its practicality and impact on employee morale. Supporters argue that the new system will ensure accountability and reduce instances of employees clocking in and out without actually being present.

Bu Ali, a civil service employee, noted many employees currently log their attendance with their managers’ knowledge, despite having no work to do. He suggested that the government should focus on evaluating employee productivity through the actual work completed rather than just physical presence.

“Many employees have no work to do and have offices to be at, and this is the disguised unemployment that the government has created over the years,” Bu Ali explained. He also criticized the timing of the announcement, saying, “Who issues a decision on Friday, when people are chilling on their off day, unaware of the news?”

Critics expressed several concerns. Fajer Mishari questioned the Civil Service Commission’s focus on attendance rather than addressing broader issues like educational outcomes, labor market needs and employee satisfaction. “Where is the study of educational outcomes and the actual needs of the labor market? As well as the projects to achieve job satisfaction, leadership development, training programs, etc. Is it reasonable that no issues are left except for the fingerprint?” Mishari remarked.

Athari Al-Enzi pointed out potential disruptions to workflow, suggesting that employees might abandon their tasks to meet biometrics requirements, thereby reducing overall productivity. “So, suppose I am halfway through my work, and there is a client in front of me. Do I ask his permission to go for a faceprint and then get back to complete my work? Or if I had a meeting, whether in person or online, with external parties, how do I stop the meeting for biometrics? And is someone who forgets to faceprint halfway through the shift considered absent for the entire day?” Enzi asked sarcastically.

Hala Essa rued the absence of salary increases or strategic payroll alternatives over the past 16 years, coupled with weak living standards, traffic congestion and poor infrastructure. She argued that submitting biometrics every two hours does not address these fundamental issues. “Other countries have reduced working hours to four hours, and our government is still thinking about biometrics. Is it not enough for employees to endure no increases or promotions, traffic congestion and dilapidated streets?” she queried.

Ibrar Al-Ali echoed these sentiments, stating that the new system does not encourage productivity or motivation but merely ensures physical presence at government bodies and ministries without considering actual work performance. “It was better to think of ways to increase productivity and motivate them to do their work, and thus the productive person will naturally be committed. Even if the government takes biometrics every half hour, it cannot force employees to adhere to this path. This is work, not detention.”