Pregnant women in civil employment will be given leave starting Thursday, considering the ongoing H1N1 outbreak in the country.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) said in a circular on Thursday that given pregnant women’s susceptibility to the strain, civil employees expecting a baby will be given indefinite leave with salaries and benefits.

CSC urged said employees to work from home and assist their colleagues in the office in every way they can while on leave.

The Maldivian Civil Service Act gives the commission authority to enforce this.

Other state institutions like the Elections Commission and the Auditor General’s Office have also granted employees, who are more susceptible to H1N1, leave.