As part of the Ramadan Legal Councils, organized by the Law Respect Culture Bureau, at the Secretariat General of the Office of H.H Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, on Friday in Umm Al-Quwain, participants emphasized that adherence to the ethics of public office is crucially important and contributes to improve the quality of services provided to the public. They called on employees in all sectors to demonstrate this behavior in fulfilling their duties; in order to deliver services with good manners; creativity; good treatment; excellence; honesty and truthfulness.
Participants also touched on the issue of public office between law and ethics through several topics: the legal aspect related to the framework of offences committed by public servants; the legal aspect of reconciling between a public job and a private job. The religious aspect addressed the importance of loyalty and job ethics in Islam; while the social aspect highlighted the relation between the employee and the public, and how the public servant may take advantage of the social status given to him by the job.
The Council was attended by a number of judges, legal counsels and media figures, as well as Colonel Salem Al Mazroui, Deputy Chief of Umm Al Quwain police.
Brigadier Mohammed Saleh Baddah Al Awadi, Director of Public Relations at the Ministry of Interior emphasized the need to establish a culture of respect between the employee and the public, referring to the many initiatives implemented by the Ministry of Interior in this regard.
For his part, Colonel Salem Al Mazroui shed light on the plans and programs implemented by the Ministry of Interior to develop its members’ capabilities and acquaint them with their duties and responsibilities. He emphasized that the Ministry is constantly striving to create a distinguished work environment, through which its members can provide better services to the public.
He noted that such strategies in the line of work had a significant role in helping the Ministry of Interior acquire a number of awards, medals and decorations, in public service and for the excellence performance of the Ministry’s staff.
Furthermore, Lt. Colonel Dr. Salah Obaid Al-Ghoul, Director, Law Respect culture Bureau at the Ministry of Interior, stated that the term “work ethics” is intended to focus on the fact that individuals are responsible for the work performed; and stems from the firm belief in the need to respect and develop the intrinsic value of the job; as well as individuals’ legal obligation to perform their duties, for the many impacts they have on society.
Al-Ghoul added that public office includes a range of duties and responsibilities that impose certain obligations on the incumbent, in return for the perks and advantages granted to him. He noted: “A public servant needs to comply with the job’s duties and prohibitions and work in the interest of the facility or department he belongs to, efficiently and with dedication, by refraining from any behavior that may lead to illegally exploiting the job”.
In the religious aspect, Dr. Sheikh Ammar Ibrahim Hassan and Sheikh Zakaria Mohammed from the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments discussed the duties and work ethics in Islam, considering that the job is a precious responsibility; adding that a public servant should prove good work ethics and comply with his job duties.
Moreover, they stressed that job duties are a means of achieving the primary objective of public office, in order to deliver services with good manners; creativity; good treatment; excellence.
Also speaking at the Council, Judge Dr Abdul Wahab Abdul, Head of the Federal Supreme Court, who pointed out that public office is a service entrusted to the employee, for the public interest. He added that