A-G: Job evaluation more than changing salary
Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says job evaluation is not simply changing the current salary. He said this was a fundamental change to the way remuneration was structured in the civil service.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum was explaining the current civil service reforms to senior education officers and staff members of the Ministry of Education during their planning workshop at The Pearl Resort in Pacific Harbour. They spoke on civil service reforms, issues within the ministry and what is expected of them as senior officials. Here, he also confirmed that changes to remuneration were not the end and a Performance Management Guideline was being worked on which would include details on monitoring and assessing performance and how high performers would be rewarded in the future.
“Transition to the new bands is the start, the Performance Management guideline will detail how you will be able to move from one step to another in the bands, based on confirmed performance,” the A-G said. “We confirm that this Guideline will also include details on contract management provisions, including the performance requirements which will have to be met for any contract renewals to take place.” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum also pointed out the importance of civil servants providing the needed support to their permanent secretaries. He gave two examples from within the Education Ministry where administrative directives had been issued without the knowledge of Permanent Secretary Iowane Tiko.
In one instance, a Labasa-based education administrative officer sent out an email to teachers in Labasa that Mr Tiko would be at a school in Nasekula and would meet iTaukei teachers during this visit. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said he was inundated with queries on how Government could discriminate teachers based on their ethnicity and why Mr Tiko was planning on holding a meeting with only iTaukei teachers there. Mr Tiko assured the A-G that the directive was not from him.
In another instance, an education officer in the West circulated an email stating schools in the West were not to attend the University of the South Pacific’s Open Day. Queries were raised about this to Mr SayedKhaiyum by the Vice Chancellor of the university, Rajesh Chandra. This directive was also issued without the knowledge of Mr Tiko, and the two civil servants were acting on their own volition.
“These are unacceptable. It creates unnecessary administrative intervention.” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said such instances also made the ministry look absolutely unprofessional.
Permanent secretaries play the role of chief executive officers, says the A-G. He also pointed out that some permanent secretaries earned more than some ministers in Government.
“The Permanent Secretary is the person responsible for running the Ministry. The Permanent Secretary is the chief accounting officer so all financial responsibilities rest with him or her,” he said.
All administrative decisions rest with the Permanent Secretary, all contracts that are signed for employment purposes is between the Permanent Secretary and the individual staff.
He also pointed out that the Permanent Secretary was not appointed by Cabinet or the Prime Minister. The appointing body for all permanent secretaries is the Public Service Commission and the contract for their employment is between the Commission and the Permanent Secretary.
The Permanent Secretary is the chief accounting officer so all financial responsibilities rest with him or her. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum Attorney-General