S.L. 363.20 Art. 14AReduced hours.

(1) An employee who takes care of children under the age of five (5) years may submit a request in writing to the Executive

Secretary in order to work on reduced hours. The request for this purpose shall be submitted at least two months prior to the need to make use of this concession. The Executive Secretary shall immediately put forward such requests for the consideration of the Council together with his recommendations whether such request should be accepted or not. In any case the Council shall give its decisions in writing. Such requests shall not be for less than twenty hours a week based on a five day week period.

(2) It shall be at the absolute discretion of the Council on the basis of its exigencies whether to approve or not such requests. When such requests are approved by the Council, the Council shall establish the extent of the period by which the employee shall benefit from this concession subject to any other condition which the Council may impose, which shall be incorporated in a written agreement between the Council and the employee. The Council’s decision shall be final.

(3) At all times the Council may withdraw this concession after giving two weeks notice in writing to the employee, provided that during the first year of the contract of employment the notice shall be of three weeks. The employee, to whom the concession to work on reduced hours has been granted, shall not on his own accord work on a full-time basis, but shall submit a written request to the Executive Secretary to work on a full-time basis. The Executive Secretary shall put the reasons before the Council, giving also his written recommendations. The request shall not be turned down without a valid reason. The decision by the Council shall be final and shall be immediately communicated to the employee by the Executive Secretary. During the period of reduced hours, the salary to be paid and any other benefits to be granted, including any type of leave, to the employee shall be on a pro-rata basis.