The Public Service Commission has applauded civil servants for adopting smart working procedures and efficiency measures that have resulted in Government saving on average $4.5million in operational costs.
In issuing a fresh challenge for civil servants to persevere with their savings habit, PSC permanent secretary Parmesh Chand said the consistent accrual of such savings could result in pay increases by the end of the year.
“The civil service wages and expenditure is quite high so the onus is really on each civil servant and the civil service as a whole to cut down that level of expenditure to improve the rate of savings,” he said.
“As in any organisation improvements in workers terms and conditions happens through resources available and when we have more available either through savings or through improved performance we will consider a case for implementation of Job Evaluation Exercise for the rest of the civil service.
“As I said we have partially begun with disciplined services and nurses and the intention is for the rest of the civil service and through this year’s savings there is considerable scope in considering improvement in the adjustment of salary by the end of the year if we go according to the rate of savings we have been accruing.”
Factors that have contributed to the savings include:
· Staffing control measures
· Staff more vigilant about overhead costs
· Smart time management have resulted in reduced overtime hours
As the biggest employer, with around 27,000 employees on the payroll of the civil service, Government spends about $750m in operational expenditure that constitutes wages and overhead.
Reforms that have been implemented are targeted to cut down on these costs through improved efficiency, removal of duplication of services and right sizing of the civil service.
Mr Chand urged civil servants to play a greater stake in ensuring the high operational cost of Government is brought down.
“The benefits of lower costs will of course be felt by the nation especially civil servants,” he said.
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