JAPAN
More women pass PS exam
Women are passing Japan’s rigorous examination for entry into the Public Service at record rates, representing 27.2 per cent of successful applicants in the 2017–18 financial year.
This is the highest proportion since records began 58 years ago.
The National Personnel Authority said the figure was up 1.4 percentage points from the preceding year.
Of the 1,797 people who passed, 488 were women.
The total number of applicants was 19,609, meaning that one in every 10.9 applicants passed the exam — almost unchanged from the previous fiscal year.
Tokyo, 30 June 2018
UNITED KINGDOM
‘Yes, Minister’ alive and well
The Chair of the UK Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, Meg Hillier says “a run of Public Servants” had given evidence that they had to say what the Minister wanted to hear.
She said the limited freedom to challenge Ministers was leading to policy failure.
Ms Hillier said there was a fear amongst Whitehall officials that speaking out against what a Minister wanted them to do could be “career wrecking”.
She said there was a lot of “moving sideways to move up” in the Public Service.
As a result, “rapid senior staff turnover results in a lack of embedded knowledge and expertise in Government”.
London, 30 June 2018
UNITED STATES
PS exam found to be wrong
Health and Safety Officers working for the State Government of California have been told they may be dismissed because of an error in the examination they took to qualify for their jobs.
The officers have carried out hundreds of investigations and workplace inspections since they were appointed more than a year ago.
An audit conducted by the State Personnel Board found an irregularity in how their Public Service examination was administered.
State officials said the appointees themselves did nothing wrong.
Spokesman for the State Human Resources Department, Andrew LaMar said none of the employees involved was at fault and every option was being explored to keep them in their jobs.
Sacramento, 29 June 2018
ITALY
Crackdown on absenteeism
The Italian Government has promised that senior Public Servants guilty of “serial absenteeism” or who are sexual pests will be sacked under a new toughened code of conduct.
Managers who rack up “unjustified series of absences” in periods when service should be guaranteed or who are repeat offenders regarding “behaviour or molestation of a sexual nature” will be fired under the proposed code.
Repeated “toleration of irregularities in service” on the part of staff will also be sanctioned.
Managers who have “altercations” or don’t apply rules on work safety or smoking bans can also be fined up to €500 (A$790) under the new code.
Rome, 4 July 2018
SINGAPORE
Family leave extended
Singapore Public Servants can now take up to six weeks of unpaid leave should they have urgent needs, Minister for Manpower, Josephine Teo has announced.
The move comes amid a push for a whole-of-society effort to forge strong families for all.
Mrs Teo said about 190,000 employees were covered by the decision.
“The Government and the community both have roles to play so that parenthood remains achievable, enjoyable and celebrated,” Mrs Teo said.
Singapore, 2 July 2018
KENYA
Service delivery to be improved
The Kenyan Government has promised “sweeping reforms” in the Public Service to improve delivery of critical services such as healthcare, education, power and clean water.
Announcing the measures on African Public Service Day, Cabinet Secretary, Margaret Kobia said reforms would come through skills upgrades and technology adoption.
“This realigns with the quest to achieve the Big Four Agenda on manufacturing, food security, affordable housing and universal healthcare,” Ms Kobia said.
“The Government is committed to transforming the entire Civil Service through regulatory reforms and retraining of personnel.”
Nairobi, 29 June 2018
PORTUGAL
Unions demand increases
Unions representing Portugal’s Public Servants are demanding a 4 per cent increase in salaries and pensions next year, with a minimum monthly increase of €60 (A$95) for lower-paid workers.
Chief union negotiator, Ana Avoila said negotiations on the 2019 deal should begin on 1 September.
“There is a need to boost Civil Servants’ salaries and pensions, as they have been frozen since 2009,” Ms Avoila said.
“This means workers have lost 18.9 per cent in purchasing power, while career progression by seniority has been blocked even longer.”
Lisbon, 29 June 2018
UGANDA
2,000 new teachers wanted
The Ugandan Government says it will recruit about 2,000 teachers in the current financial year — but other areas of the Public Service will remain under a hiring curb.
Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Public Service, Catherine Bitarakwate said there would be no new funds for other Public Service recruitment, and new hires would be limited to replacements within the current wage structure.
She said 1,900 post-primary science teachers, instructors and tutors and 1,100 post-primary arts teachers will be recruited this financial year.
The Public Service has for years been one of Uganda’s biggest employers, especially for graduates.
Kampala, 4 July 2018
