The Government has taken a huge step forward on the overall reforms of the Civil Service to improve efficiency, productivity, accountability and transparency in the provision of public goods and services, says the Permanent Secretary for the Public Service, Parmesh Chand
The PSC Secretary said all Ministries have had some level of adjustment on operating budget and some have much more cuts than others.
“We have been given a figure of around $24 to $26 million to save in the area of personal emoluments. All this is meant to re-organize the operating expenditure/capital expenditure from 18 percent to 20 percent to as high as 70 or low of 30 percent.
We are looking at reducing the operating expenses of Government –which will have a flow on effect on reducing the size of deficit. Government is targeting $70 million in savings –not necessarily only through operating expenditure but reorganizing projects.
Mr Chand said Government will continue with the reforms needed before 2014 and lots more effort is needed to ensure that all Government ministries and departments successfully implement reforms.
There are three key components of the Civil Service Reforms - organizational, human resources and productivity managements.
Some of the major achievements outlined by Mr Chand include:
· Reduction in the operational costs by 10 per cent;
· Implementation of compulsory retirement age;
· Contracting out Civil Service;
· Establishment of the Public Service Disciplinary Tribunal;
· Corporatization of Water Authority of Fiji;
· Establishment of the Fiji Procurement Service;
· Regularising of 2000 acting appointments;
· Commercialisation of Government quarters;
· Compulsory training of Civil servants;
· Increased provision of scholarship; And
· More customer focused and improved services.
Mr Chand said the role of the PSC is also changing.
“We are the central personal authority. Therefore, we are much more involved in setting meaningful polices for reforms in ethics, human resource development and efficiency through service delivery.
“PSC is now targeting setting decisions more on formulations of polices,” he said.
According to Mr Chand there are enormous benefits of reforms to the people of Fiji as they will get quality and efficient service and funds that are saved will be allocated to other priority sectors for development such as health, education, infrastructure, social welfare and poverty alleviation.