NAMIBIA
Skills shortage hits PS
Namibia’s Public Service Commission says the skills shortage in the country is so great it has been forced to employ 1,315 foreigners in many technical areas.
It said there was a critical shortage of teachers in fields such as foreign languages, sciences, mathematics and biology.
There were also not enough qualified Namibians to fill positions in libraries, archives and hospitals.
The Public Service Commission said many Namibians were unwilling to work in remote areas, despite the country’s high unemployment rate.
Windhoek, 17 July 2018
SINGAPORE
Veteran PSC Chair calls it a day
Chair of Singapore’s Public Service Commission (PSC), Eddie Teo is to retire at the end of the month.
Mr Teo has headed the PSC for almost 10 years and has spent nearly 50 years in the Public Service.
He will be replaced with Lee Tzu Yang, the current Deputy Chair.
Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong thanked Mr Teo for his “dedicated service and sterling contributions” to the Public Service, singling out his push for diversity.
The PSC selects and develops scholarship holders, appoints senior management and maintains discipline in the Public Service.
Singapore, 16 July 2018
CAYMAN ISLANDS
PS to get business training
The Cayman Island Government has launched a new training program to help Public Servants incorporate management principles, practices and business case skills into their day-to-day operations.
The program is aimed at providing additional opportunities for PS staff to build skills and knowledge in business case development and project management best practices.
Officials said the training would contribute to the development of professional standards by exposing PS employees to best practice.
The program will be delivered by UK-based company CITI.
George Town, 18 July 2018
LITHUANIA
Department heads to set salaries
Legislation signed into law by Lithuanian President, Dalia Grybauskaite gives heads of Departments more powers in setting salaries for Public Servants.
While critics say this may lead to abuse by Department heads, the Government says it will help raise salaries for top-performing employees and thus attract more qualified professionals into the Public Service.
The law also provides that PS employees must be of impeccable reputation and will have to use their personal funds to compensate for damage caused to the state as a result of their decisions.
Heads of Departments will be appointed for a five-year term through a competitive selection process.
A person will not be able to head the same Department for more than two consecutive terms.
Vilnius, 18 July 2018
MALAYSIA
Night market service a success
A pilot program involving the setting up of Public Service counters in night markets at selected locations around Malaysia has been deemed a success.
Minister for Human Resources, M. Kulasegaran said the counters had enabled people to bring their Public Service–related problems to the attention of the relevant Agencies.
“The counters have received an encouraging response from the public, probably because they were opened at public markets,” Mr Kulasegaran said.
“After this, maybe we can open the counters at more night markets so that more people can come and share their problems.”
Kuala Lumpur, 16 July 2018
OMAN
Department to boost innovation
A new Department for Innovation and Change Management has been established in the Oman Public Service.
Minister of Civil Service, Khalid bin Omar bin Said Al Marhoon said the Department would comprise three divisions: Innovation, Talent and Change Management.
Sheikh Khalid said the decision aimed to address international developments in the field of public administration and continued changes in the work environment.
“The establishment of this Department will contribute to achievement of the Ministry’s vision in being an expertise house and a referral for all Civil Service units,” Sheikh Khalid said.
Muscat, 16 July 2018
NIGERIA
PS vetting plan under way
Verification of Nigerian Federal Government Employees on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) has begun, with 486 Ministries, Departments and Agencies and more than 300,000 employees to be assessed.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita said the verification was necessary to authenticate the documents of individual employees.
She said the procedure would entail everyone presenting themselves and their documents for screening.
“It is the fulfilment of one of the cardinal principles of the introduction of the IPPIS program, which is blocking loopholes and discouraging corruption in the administration of personnel records,” Mrs Oyo-Ita said.
“It is important that the human resource information on the IPPIS portal be cleaned up with a view to having credible data for both payroll and personnel administration and analysis.”
Abuja, 15 July 2018
