KENYA
Call to thaw of PS freeze
The Kenyan Public Service Commission (PSC) has called for the freeze on recruiting to the Public Service to be lifted in the face of a looming jobs crisis triggered by the retirement of 37 per cent of public workers in the next decade.
Acting Chair of the PSC, Peter ole Nkuraiya (pictured) told Parliament that the ban on hiring non-essential staff had made it difficult to plan for succession.
He said the share of PS employees over the age of 50 increased from 35 per cent in the year to June 2016, to 37 per cent last year.
“This means that 66,000 Civil Servants will retire before 2027 and the Government will have to retain some beyond the retirement age of 60 due to a skills shortage,” Mr Nkuraiya said.
Nairobi, 25 April 2018
GERMANY
PS wins pay increases
Germany’s public sector unions have won a 7.5 per cent pay increase to be spread over 30 months.
Under the deal, employees will have their wages increased in phases, starting with a 3.19 per cent increase backdated to 1 March.
They will receive a second increase, of 3.09 per cent, on 1 April 2019 and a further 1.06 per cent increase on 1 March 2020.
A one-off payment of €250 (A$400) will also be made to low-paid workers, and public sector pay scales will be changed to make them more transparent.
The deal comes after three days of intensive talks and a series of nationwide strikes by public sector workers that caused hundreds of flights to be cancelled and disrupted hospitals, nurseries and refuse collection.
Berlin, 25 April 2018
BANGLADESH
Freedom fighters lose PS rights
Descendants of freedom fighters in Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence are hitting back at the Government’s decision to abolish their 30 per cent quota for Public Service jobs.
They also want the descendants of the anti-liberation forces completely disqualified from Government jobs and involvement in politics.
At a demonstration in Dhaka, a delegation of freedom fighters’ descendants put forward a nine-point demand, including the preservation of the quota system and constitutional recognition of their status.
“We will foil any conspiracy if it is hatched against the interest of the freedom fighters and their children,” one speaker warned.
Dhaka, 22 April 2018
UGANDA
No money for PS recruitment
The Ugandan Government says it will not be recruiting for the Public Service this year as it has run out of cash.
The announcement means that thousands of posts in Central and Local Governments will remain vacant amid soaring unemployment.
In a letter to all Departments, Secretary to the Treasury, Keith Muhakanizi said money would be provided only for existing staff.
The directive comes after PS staff in medicine, education and the law received pay rises last month, with the military, police and prisons officers expecting increases this month.
Kampala, 20 April 2018
UKRAINE
Public broadcasting threatened
A proposed amendment to a Ukrainian law on public television and radio has been criticised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) as a possible threat to the editorial independence of public service media.
The law obliges public service broadcaster UA:PBC “to cover the activity of executive authorities, other state authorities, local self-government bodies, or their officials as defined by other laws”.
The EBU said this would, in effect, provide free air time quotas for every Member of Parliament.
The current law leaves it up to the discretion of the broadcaster and its editorial judgement.
The EBU said it urged the Ukrainian Parliament to reject the adoption of the article, “as it jeopardises the independence of UA:PBC and could derail its current reform into a genuine service to the citizens, which is a key goal for the Government”.
Kiev, 20 April 2018
TAIWAN
Young workers dream of PS work
A poll of young Taiwanese has found they consider working in the Public Service their dream job.
The survey, released by online employment agency 1111 Job Bank, found that 25 per cent of the 1,117 respondents aged 18 or older indicated they wanted to become a PS employee, ahead of an engineer (17 per cent) and internet celebrity (16 per cent).
Commenting on the results, head of Career Development at 1111 Job Bank, Daniel Lee said PS employees received stable salaries and allowances, such as subsidies for their children’s education and travel, so the profession was attractive to many.
The survey found male respondents picked engineering as their dream job, while female respondents preferred the Public Service.
Taipei, 22 April 2018
MYANMAR
President pledges to care for workers
The newly elected President of Myanmar, U Win Myint has promised to “take care” of the country’s Public Servants, while urging them to help in delivering efficient service to the public and in the fight against corruption.
He pledged that Government employees would be able to live in their own homes with dignity by the time they reached retirement, noting that 4,627 Public Service housing units had been constructed in the past two years, with plans for 7,000 more.
“The Union Government has already made calculations and drawn up plans to increase the salaries of all clerical staff by 20 per cent and that of all supervisors by 10 per cent,” President U Win said.
“Since the Union Government has made these arrangements for Civil Service personnel, they should be reminded that they also need to reciprocate by participating in the reform programs of the Union Government through cooperation and accepting responsibilities.”
Naypyidaw, 20 April 2018
INDIA
Governor sets out priorities
The Indian Territory of Puducherry marked Civil Service Day with a call by Lieutenant Governor, Kiran Bedi for officials to give maximum priority to education, health and welfare schemes.
“They should spend Government money as if it came out of their own pockets,” Ms Bidi said.
“Politicians will be there in power for five years, but this is not the case of officials and, hence, they should function with honesty and courage.”
She said PS employees must never forget they were given security of service to serve fearlessly, honestly and effectively; only then would the public get the services it deserved.
Puducherry, 21 April 2018
