Updated 3.37pm with reaction by the Principal Permanent Secretary below.

The UĦM Voice of the Workers is calling on the government to allow public service employees to work from home, as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase. 

The spike, CEO Josef Vella told head of civil service Mario Cutajar, was increasing anxiety among several workers. 

The government should also carry out risk assessments in the case of those who cannot telework, and ensure that there is a distance of two metres between each employee. 

There should also be appropriate ventilation, regular cleaning and sanitisers and protective gear where necessary. Meanwhile, those returning from abroad should self isolate for two weeks, Vella added in the letter. 

Vulnerable people including pregnant women, those with diabetes and immuno-compromised people should be protected against possible exposure to the virus.

'Telework within the public service was never removed or halted'

In a reaction, the Office of the Principal Permanent Secretary said telework within the public service was never removed or halted.

It said that although directives issued by the Office were repealed, the direction remained for telework to continue to be made available.

It said that during the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, an analysis was conducted on remote working.

"The result has already been analysed and work has commenced so that, from the notion of telework, the Public Service shifts to remote working. Thus, the public service will continue to be a model and pioneer of how a work-life balance can be achieved. This not only with a view of Covid-19, but for this to become an everyday process," the Office said.

As regards the other points raised in the UĦM, it said instructions were always clear and modelled on the guidelines issued by the Department for Health.