The Public Service Commission is committed to modernising the civil service in its efforts to improve efficiencies in its practices and service delivery.
PSC permanent secretary Mr Parmesh Chand said that a number of reform initiatives in this regards are being implemented to make the civil service more responsive to today’s working environment.
“We are close to finalizing a review of the General Orders which was last undertaken in 1993, there are now various forms of contracts for civil servants in line with the State Services Decree 2009 to replace the previously permanent nature of employment of civil servants,” Mr Chand said.
“There are relaxations done from time to time to minimum qualification requirement to get the best and brightest recruited and retained in civil service and there is a higher levels of delegation to permanent secretaries pertaining to human resource matters.
“There are also ongoing reviews and restructuring within ministries, departments and agencies to streamline processes and provide more customer focused services.
“There is also primary focus in the Civil Service Excellence Awards Program, which has run for the last six years on perfecting systems, processes and improving efficiencies in our overall efforts to reform the civil service”.
Mr Chand said the commission was also considering options for retention of personnel with scarce and professional skills.
Given the increased marketability and mobility of such personnel, not only within Fiji but Internationally, it is imperative that innovative ways are put in place to ensure their retention in the Civil Service.
Mr Chand said there was now increasing realisation among civil servants to “go that extra mile” in performance of their role and service delivery as there was more emphasis on planning, monitoring, accountability and training.
He said that there were also a number of government departments, which now remained open during lunch hours and as a result provided continuous and uninterrupted service.
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