Interior Ministry set to recruit new civil servants

THE Ministry of Interior is set to recruit another 232 civil servants for this year to work at national and sub-national institutions.

The new recruits will fill vacancies of officials who have either resigned, retired, are incapable or deceased.

The ministry said in an announcement that candidates for sub-national posts are to take examinations at various authorised centres in Phnom Penh and the provinces of Kampong Cham, Siem Reap, Battambang, Kampot and Kratie.

Examinations for senior posts are to be held in Phnom Penh at the municipal hall, Kamboul commune hall, Boeung Keng Kang commune hall, and at other provincial administrations including Preah Sihanouk, Koh Kong, Pursat, Kampong Thom, Kandal, Siem Reap, Prey Veng, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Kampong Cham, Oddar Meanchey, Kampong Speu, Tbong Khmum, Takeo, Svay Rieng, Kampot and Kratie.

The opening date for applications is August 30, while exams are scheduled for September 22. Candidates applying for posts at Phnom Penh, provincial, district and commune halls are required to submit their applications to respective municipal and provincial administrative offices during working hours.

Ministry of Interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak cited minister Sar Kheng as saying that the ministry needed to select applicants who are knowledgeable and tech-savvy.

“We need them because we have been implementing egovernment policies,” he said.

On Wednesday, Transparency International (Cambodia) senior programme director Pech Pisey urged examination committees at all state institutions to ensure independence and transparency in selecting candidates.

Hiring decisions, Pisey said, must be based on their merits, capacity, experience and technological knowledge.

Pisey also called for prevention of corruption and nepotism of all forms and regardless of the candidates’ political affiliations.

“From experience, we have seen irregularities in examinations. Candidates often complained that they needed to offer kickbacks to examination committee or those responsible for the examinations to pass the tests,” Pisey said.

Prak Samoeun, the directorgeneral and deputy chairman of the Examination Organisation Committee, however, rejected allegation of corruption.

“We have proper mechanisms in place. So far the committee has not received any formal complaints,” he said.