Fijian Civil Service
SUVA - The Public Service Commission (PSC) approved an amendment of the Open Merit Recruitment and Selection Guidelines to bolster efficiency in the Civil Service during its meeting last week.
This exercise aims to address the significant
workforce turnover in the Civil Service, streamline acting appointments, and tap
into the local talent pool for alternative appointments.
This also includes allowing step movements in
salary bands, an initiative that was put on hold in August 2021 during the
COVID-19 pandemic, and providing avenues for the retention of skills without the
need for public advertisement.
Commission Chair Luke Rokovada says this
commitment is a response to the critical need for strategic workforce planning
to effectively manage the 887 employees currently in acting positions
across Ministries and Departments.
Mr. Rokovada said that there are certain
positions with acting roles shared by two employees across the Civil Service.
“The prevalence of vacancies within the civil
service significantly exceeds the number of acting positions available,
highlighting a critical need for strategic workforce planning and selective recruitment
efforts,’’ Mr.Rokovada said.
Mr.Rokovada adds that this move is expected to
ensure effective and efficient service delivery across government sectors.
A thorough review of the Civil Service will be
undertaken later this year.