Government Formulates Strategy to Curb Share Trading by Civil Servants During Office Hours

The government is preparing to prohibit civil servants from engaging in share trading during office hours due to concerns that it is interfering with their official duties and negatively affecting public services.

This decision follows a formal request from the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), which urged the Prime Minister’s Office to enforce a ban after receiving complaints that employees were prioritizing stock trading over their responsibilities. Discussions are currently underway on how best to implement the ban, including potential technical solutions to block access to trading platforms within government offices.

Additionally, the government is reviewing legal frameworks to regulate or penalize employees who engage in share trading during work hours. Under existing laws, civil servants must seek approval if they wish to engage in business activities. The government may classify share trading as a form of business and take appropriate action against employees who violate this restriction. The initiative aims to reduce the misuse of government resources and ensure that civil servants focus on delivering efficient public services.