Ministries told to right-size their organisations
MINISTRIES have been told to right-size their organisations and adjust their workforce to meet current needs, which involves the possibility of “working towards a reduced workforce”.
Ministry of Civil Service permanent secretary Parmesh Chand said this in a circular released on February 7.
He said following discussions at the Permanent Secretaries Forum earlier this year, it was agreed that appropriate guidelines be developed to avoid instances of irregularities or overspending and to ensure budget sustainability.
“Step movements are restricted to only one step within the assigned salary band, ensuring that employees are recognised and rewarded for their expanded contributions and/or staff retention,” he said.
“Ministries must implement these changes within the current existing budget allocation, as no additional funding will be provided in the new financial year to cater for the increase in salary cost as a result of this exercise.
“This means that any increase in staffing costs through step movement will have to consider broader issues such as its impacts on existing as well as following years of establishment and budget. Ministries are to consider the overall impact of these changes while rewarding staff based on performance and/or retention. Any salary increase must be accommodated within the current budget of the ministry.
“It is crucial for ministries to ‘right-size their organisations, adjusting their workforce to meet current needs. This involves possibility of working towards a reduced workforce to enhance efficiency through digitalisation and other related measures and rewarding competent, hardworking, and well performing staff accordingly.”