Contracts mean perseverance, work. You work to the standard that is required of you - PM
Ahardworking civil servant should not fear signing a contract, says Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.
He made the comment during his tour of the Northern division last week while responding to queries raised by Divisional Planning Officer Northern Uraia Rainima. Mr Rainima said civil servants feared losing their jobs at the end of their contract.
Mr Bainimarama once again allayed any such fears among civil servants and reminded them of their duty.
He assured the civil servants that if they were doing their work then they should not worry about their contract, adding that from now on he did not expect any civil servant to lose their contract. “Contracts mean perseverance, work. You work to the standard that is required of you. If you know you are not performing, then your contract will end,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“But it should not. Everyone should be working hard and should not be worried with their contracts, least of all with the banks.” Mr Rainima further claimed that being on contracts made it difficult for civil servants to secure loans from financial institutions. This claim, however, does not hold any merit since all banks in Fiji have clarified that holding a contract-based employment was not the only thing banks considered. Mr Bainimarama clarified to the civil servants that contracts should not be the only reason for deciding whether a person qualifies for a loan from a bank.
“If someone says they have a problem with the banks because of their contract, come and see me,” he said.
“All the banks have given their endorsement that contracts are not included in any financial dealings with civil servants,” he said.