The quality, standards and coverage of public services will not in any way be affected despite the control measures on staffing in the civil service placed by the Public Service Commission following the announcement of the Revised 2010 National Budget by Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, on Friday, July 2nd, 2010.
This is an assurance categorically provided by the PSC as it has moved to put in place a number of measures to effect staffing controls in the Public Service.
The Permanent Secretary for Public Service, Mr Parmesh Chand confirmed that the controls put in place will also assist in achievement of Government’s target for a leaner and more cost effective civil service.
“All new vacant positions and acting appointments have been frozen in Civil Service with effect from Friday, July 2nd, 2010.
The duties of the positions affected will need to be redeployed or reassigned to other officers in the same grade or a grade above.
All vacancies arising out of the recent regularization exercise have also been frozen, including the discontinuation of new acting appointments on vacant posts, effective from Friday, 2nd July, 2010.
The only exceptions to this will be cases of acting appointments absolutely necessary for the exercise of statutory functions.
In such cases, prior approval from PSC needs to be sought.”
He added that there will be no consequential acting appointments or relieving appointments allowed.
Mr Chand stated that consideration for filling of vacant posts will only be given for technical and professional positions. However, this will require the approval of the Commission first, after which a certificate of availability of funds may be issued from the Ministry of Finance.
The freeze on temporary appointments at base level remains in force as well as the creation of new line and project positions.
Mr Chand said new appointments to project positions, including the recruitment of project casual labourers is being also withheld with immediate effect.
He said that all Government advertisements for vacancies have ceased, however priority areas such as health, education and engineering will be considered given the essential nature of their operation.
There have also been controls placed on compensation of leave and other related allowances.
In this regard he emphasized that prior arrangements need to be made for the utilization of any leave or any other entitlement for officers appointed on promotion or on contract during the period of contract.
Leave compensation will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.
Mr Chand reiterated that Government is serious in its effort to contain the size of the civil service.
He further emphasized that the new way forward will not in any way at all, lower the quality of service delivery, as all government employees have been reminded to vigilantly explore options of achieving more with less for higher levels of efficiency.