KUWAIT CITY, April 13: Abdullah Al-Jouan, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, has instructed the Director of the General Administration of Customs to revamp the system for recording departure fingerprints for shift workers, reports Al- Rai daily. Under the new directive, employees will be required to register their fingerprints every 6 hours during their shifts, with three fingerprints needed for a 12-hour work period. According to sources, the Director of Customs has disseminated the updated fingerprinting protocol among the administration’s staff, with the implementation slated to commence on May 1, 2024.

Insiders revealed to Al-Rai that this decision, set to take effect on May 1, aims to enhance the precision and efficiency of tracking working hours, ensuring the punctuality of employees throughout their shifts. The new system mandates the recording of attendance and departure fingerprints, along with a mid-shift check-in. Furthermore, the decision addresses existing challenges in adhering to shift schedules, citing factors such as the lack of accommodation for employees working under the 48-hour work and 96-hour rest system in remote customs ports (Salmi, Abdali, Nuwaiseeb, and Khubari Al-Awazem), as well as the 24-hour work and 48-hour rest system for nearby customs areas (air freight, Sulaibiya, vegetable market, customs warehouses, and sea ports).