NZ Government targets senior jobs

WELLINGTON (April 12): The New Zealand Public Service Commission has been asked for details of how many  people are employed in senior management positions as Finance Minister, Nicola Willis steps up the Government’s cost-cutting exercise.

Ms Willis (pictured) said her focus was on Tier Two and Three management roles. Heads of Department are in Tier One.

“What I have said to the Public Service Commission is, give me some advice on how many Tier Two and Three managers we have, so I can see whether it looks like there are any issues in terms of making sure the Public Service is the right size,” Ms Willis said.

“If I just focus on head count, what I worry about is that Agencies would just cull a lot of lowly-paid staff. It’s not just about head count, it’s about cost.”

While she has committed to not cutting front-line staff as part of the Government’s drive to find savings of at least 6.5 per cent within Ministries, there has been criticism that key jobs are on the line.

Ministries have so far between them announced that more than 1,000 jobs are up for consultation.

The Māori arm of the Public Service Association says a prediction that as many as 7,500 jobs could eventually go in the cull would mean irreplaceable skills and cultural expertise would be lost to Australia.

Kaihautu (leader) of the Māori arm, Janice Panoho says the Coalition Government is acting like a jobs wrecking ball.

She said many Māori and Pasifika Public Servants will flee to Australia — “where they will be welcomed with open arms”.

“It’s really those back-office staff they are talking about. These are communications people, advisors, analysts, IT people. You lose that level of expertise, it’s very hard to get back” Ms Panoho said.

She said the current influx of immigrants don’t have the expertise to work with, or to understand, indigenous communities.

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Ministry cuts teacher jobs as students decline

SEOUL (April 13): The South Korean Ministry of Education says it will cut the enrolment quota for teachers’ colleges by 12 per cent, citing a decline in student numbers.

The reduction plan comes amid rising concerns over the employment of teachers, as the number of graduates from teaching colleges exceeds the number of teaching places available at elementary schools.

The number of newly-hired teachers this year declined by more than 50 per cent compared to 2014, but the enrolment quota for related universities has remained stable over the same period.

This ‘appointment crisis’ comes as more than 150 elementary schools across the nation had no new first graders enrolling this year. In total, some 369,000 children have enrolled at elementary school, the lowest number of new first graders since the Ministry began recording such statistics in 1970.

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Belgium says EU elections under threat

BRUSSELS (April 13): Belgian Security Agencies are investigating reports that pro-Russian hackers are trying to influence elections to the European Parliament, due in June.

Prime Minister, Alexander de Croo said Moscow’s aim was to get more pro-Russian candidates elected, leading to weakened support for Ukraine in the war with Russia.

This follows a statement from the Czech Government that it had broken up a pro-Kremlin network, alleging the Voice of Europe news website had been funded by Moscow to spread propaganda and funnel cash to sympathetic European politicians.

“Belgian intelligence had confirmed that spy networks are operating in Belgium and several other European countries,” Mr de Croo said.

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Union mobilises support for remote working

LONDON (April 13): The United Kingdom Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union is urging Civil Servants to step up their opposition to the Government’s back-to-the-office drive, and possibly follow officials at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) , who have voted to strike over the issue.

The ONS dispute is over the handling of a requirement for full-time staff to spend the equivalent of two days a week in the office.

"In a survey we carried out late last year, 83 per cent of members said they believed that hybrid working made them more productive and 100 per cent said they would lose valuable time with the extra commuting, as well as facing increased travel costs," the union said in a statement.

However, the action is unlikely to get support from the Opposition Labour Party after Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves said that while office-working decisions should be made by individual managers, “spending more time in the office is good for productivity and morale”.

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Government scales back research on junta crimes

BUENOS AIRES (April 11): Argentina’s right-wing Government has been criticised for sacking 10 of 13 researchers who have been investigating armed forces archives for crimes against humanity, most of which date back to the 1976-83 military dictatorship.

After Human Rights Director at the Defence Ministry, Lucas Miles Erbes confirmed the sackings, the Government insisted the program was continuing.

The research unit, made up of experts from different disciplines, has produced more than 170 detailed reports on crimes against humanity since it was formed in 2010.

However, the Government of President Javier Milei has sparked controversy by claiming that an estimate of 30,000 people who disappeared under the junta was manufactured by human rights groups.

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Danes lead fight against underwater sabotage

COPENHAGEN (April 10): The Danish Ministry for Climate, Energy and Utilities has hosted a meeting of six countries bordering the North Sea that agreed to work together to protect underwater infrastructure from sabotage.

The agreement, involving Denmark, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway and the Netherlands, comes after the as yet unsolved 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Lars Aagaard said the North Sea had the potential to become the cradle of a renewable and secure energy supply in Europe, while supporting the road to a fossil-free future.

“Our nations must stand united and coordinated in our efforts to protect critical infrastructure across borders. This understanding is an important step in that direction,” Mr Aagaard said.

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Ukraine cracks down on draft evaders

KYIV (April 11): Ukraine’s Parliament has passed a controversial law devised by the Ministry of Defence that will make it easier to identify every draft-eligible man in the country. Previously many have dodged conscription by avoiding contact with authorities.

Under the law, men aged 18 to 60 will be required to carry documents showing they have registered with the military and present them when asked. Also, any man who applies for a Government service at a Consulate abroad will be registered for military service.

Oksana Zabolotna, an analyst for the watchdog group, Centre for United Actions, said it remained unclear how the measure would ensure all draft-eligible men were registered. “In that way, it does not fulfil the main declared goal,” Ms Zabolotna said.

She said it was also unclear whether Ukraine, with its continuing ammunition shortages, would be able to arm large numbers of new soldiers without a fresh injection of Western aid.

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No pay rise — officers urged to be patient

NAIROBI (April 16): There will be no pay increase for Kenyan Public Servants this year, Chair of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, Lyn Mengich says.

Citing affordability and fiscal sustainability considerations, Ms Mengich advised Agencies not to consider any upward increases for their staff “unless there is a demonstration of the ability to afford it”.

Head of the Public Service, Felix Koskei urged officers to exercise patience as the Government attempted to find a remedy to the ailing economy.

“The nation has to live within its means as the Government lacks extra money to pay Civil Servants as it grapples with a high wage bill,” Mr Koskei said.

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Purr-fect world for Palace pusses

MEXICO CITY (April 10); Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has declared that some 19 cats prowling the Presidential Palace and its grounds are ‘living fixed assets’ the first animals in Mexico to receive the title usually reserved for buildings or furniture.

A Presidential spokesperson said the declaration effectively made the cats Public Servants, obligating the Treasury to provide feed and care for them for the rest of their lives.

“They have access to every part of the palace, so they walk in on meetings, interviews and wander onto camera.  The cats are now a symbol of the National Palace,” the spokesperson said.

Mr López Obrador is often pictured at official functions accompanied by some of the cats. “They have no respect…they often walk in front of me during official ceremonies,” the President said.

A regular update of Public Service news and events from around the world

 

 

Advertiser links with global gaming platform

California-based digital advertising company, PubMatic has announced a partnership with Roblox, a global platform that allows users to create and play their own games.

The partnership will allow more advertisers to reach Roblox’s global community of more than 71 million daily active users, nearly half of them representing the highly-coveted Gen Z demographic.

Roblox will gain access to premium brand advertising.

Since 2006, Roblox has built a global community featuring gaming, but also concerts, sports, fashion shows, education, and entertainment.

Roblox Vice President of Global Partnerships, Stephanie Latham said the company was committed to making it easier for brands to foster connections with its highly engaged community.

“Partnering with PubMatic unlocks the opportunity for more advertisers to seamlessly engage with this community through preferred content formats, like video, while providing advertiser controls around brand suitability,” Ms Latham (pictured) said.

“The ad experience we offer on the platform is built to be immersive instead of disruptive, and true to the Roblox experience that our community of creators, users, and brands know and love."

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Hope of better health for HIV victims

A team at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia has identified sugar abnormalities in the blood that may promote biological aging and inflammation in people living with HIV.

Team leader, Associate Professor Mohamed Abdel-Mohsen said despite advances in HIV treatment, HIV remains incurable, with the virus persisting in a dormant state within the body.

“This chronic presence is linked to long-term health issues, including persistent inflammation and a higher prevalence of aging-related diseases such as cancer and neurocognitive disorders,” Associate Professor Abdel-Mohsen said.

"Utilising glycan signatures to predict early onset of diseases in people living with HIV marks a pivotal shift towards proactive healthcare. This could significantly alter clinical outcomes, allowing for timely interventions and personalised treatment plans.”

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Big profit boost for Italian transporter

 

Italy’s State-owned transport company, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane has reported 2023 revenues of €15 billion ($A24.6 billion) up eight per cent from 2022.

 

Chief Executive, Luigi Ferraris said net profit was €100 million ($A164 million), was more than six times the 2022 figure.

 

He said this growth was driven by an increase in passenger numbers on the trains and buses of the Passenger Business Unit, whose revenues were up 11.2 per cent on 2022. 

 

“Freight transport also performed well, despite the difficult international situation in the Red Sea and tensions in the Middle East, with revenues rising six per cent,” Mr Ferraris said.

 

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Chinese EV company moves into Hong Kong

Chinese smart electric vehicle company, Xpeng Motors has signed a dealer partnership which will see it expand into Hong Kong.

The agreement with Sime Darby Motors will enable Xpeng to introduce its latest smart electric vehicles (EVs) to consumers in Hong Kong with branded showrooms and after-sales support.

Vice Chairman and President of Xpeng, Brian Gu, said the company had experienced rapid growth in the 10 years since its establishment in 2014 and saw entry into Hong Kong as the next strategic step, serving as an important springboard for further global expansion.

“Xpeng is fully committed to bringing innovation that serves our customers’ evolving needs as well as realising a future of human-first intelligent mobility in Hong Kong, and around the world,” Mr Gu said.

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Singapore finance festival ‘biggest yet’

The seventh annual Seedly Personal Finance Festival has wound up in Singapore with organisers describing it as a “rousing success and the biggest yet”.

During the event, Seedly launched a new app, ShopHero, where users can get instant alerts for discounts, personalise deals and maximise rewards with best-fit credit cards.

Chief Executive of event organiser, MoneyHero, Rohith Murthy said the festival was a cornerstone the company’s commitment to educating and empowering individuals in South-East Asia through financial literacy.

“Our success is a testament to our enduring mission to serve as the region’s premier resource and advocate in personal finance,” Mr Murthy said.  

 

An occasional round-up of international business stories

 

 

Civil Servants revolt over Israel arms sales

LONDON (April 8): Civil Servants in three European countries have called on their Governments to end arms deliveries to Israel because of the prolonged Gaza conflict.

The strongest reaction has been in the United Kingdom where the powerful Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has warned the Government it is "seriously considering" taking legal action to allow Departmental officials to cease involvement in the export of arms to Israel.

The PCS is understood to be seeking an urgent meeting with senior officials at the Department for Business and Trade over concerns that the supply of UK weapons to Israel is illegal under international law because of its conduct in Gaza.

In Germany, a group of Civil Servants has written to Chancellor, Olaf Scholz and other senior Ministers calling on the Government to “cease arm deliveries to the Israeli Government with immediate effect”.

“Israel is committing crimes in Gaza that are in clear contradiction to international law and thus to the Constitution, which we are bound to as Federal Civil Servants and public employees,” the letter states.

It cites the International Court of Justice’s ruling in January that Israel’s military actions are “plausible acts of genocide”.

Former Netherlands diplomat, Angelique Eijpe said she had resigned from the Dutch Foreign Ministry over Gaza policy.

“The framework of international humanitarian law was completely cast aside in Gaza, which will damage the Netherlands’ standing in the world,” Ms Eijpe said.

“I felt like I had no choice but to resign.”

In the UK, former National Security Adviser, Lord Peter Ricketts added his voice to the call for his country to stop selling arms to Israel.

"I think the time has come to send that signal," he told BBC Radio. “There's abundant evidence now that Israel hasn't been taking enough care to fulfil its obligations on the safety of civilians."

Lord Peter (pictured) said halting arms sales would send a powerful political message to Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu that could spark debate about the United States following suit.

The moves come after seven aid workers were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza.

A UK Government spokesperson said: "We keep advice on Israel’s adherence to international humanitarian law under review and will act in accordance with that advice.”

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Mexico goes to ICJ over embassy invasion

 

MEXICO CITY (April 10): Mexico is to file a complaint against Ecuador at the International Court of Justice after the raid on its embassy in Quito, during which former Ecuadoran Vice President, Jorge Glas, granted diplomatic asylum by Mexico, was arrested.

 

The two countries have already severed diplomatic ties, with the raid prompting international condemnation.

The incident came a day after Ecuador expelled Mexico’s Ambassador after Mexican President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador insinuated his Ecuadorian counterpart, Daniel Noboa had benefited from the assassination of a rival candidate during last year’s Presidential elections.

Former journalist and Presidential candidate, Fernando Villavicencio was assassinated in August 2023.

Mr Noboa said the granting of diplomatic asylum to Mr Glas, who is facing corruption charges, was an "illicit act”.

 

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Biden’s PS protection may not stop Trump

WASHINGTON (April 5): United States President, Joe Biden will not be able to shield Federal Public Servants from political retaliation should his election rival, Donald Trump, win the election in November, a former official in the Trump White House says.

Former President Trump has promised to dismantle the so-called ‘deep state’ of entrenched Federal bureaucrats he says resisted his policies during his previous Administration.

Under Mr Biden’s orders, the Office of Personnel Management has announced a rule to strengthen Public Service protections, aiming to stymie Mr Trump’s plan to revive Schedule F, a class of Federal employees he created that could be fired more easily.

However, former Trump official, James Sherk said a Trump Administration could roll back the rule. “This is something that can slow down a Schedule F but only by six months to a year,” Mr Sherk said.

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Troops in face-off with sacked workers

BUENOS AIRES (April 5): The Argentine Government his initiated mass lay-offs of State workers, deploying security forces to block dismissed officers from re-entering their former workplaces.

Minister for Security, Patricia Bullrich said she had authorised the deployment of troops to guard public buildings in response to industrial action by the State Workers’ Association, which has called for an all-out strike in protest at the Government’s latest moves.

Demonstrations and meetings were held at various sites around the capital, Buenos Aires amid reports that as many as 15,000 contracted workers had been let go as part of President, Javier Milei’s  austerity push.

Mr Milei says he plans to cut around 70,000 jobs from the Civil Service over the next year. Argentina has more than 332,000 State workers.

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EU woos Armenia with project funding

YEREVAN (April 5): The European Union is to allocate €270 million ($A443 million) to Armenia over the next four years for electrification and new renewable energy projects.

The move comes as Armenia continues to cut ties with its former ally, Russia, which owns much of its energy network and infrastructure but has failed to step in amid a worsening confrontation with neighbouring Azerbaijan.

In recent weeks Armenia has suspended its membership of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation, has invited United States troops to train in the country, dispatched aid to Ukraine and even suggested it could try to join the European Union itself.

European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen praised these measures. “They show that the European Union and Armenia are increasingly aligned in values and interests,” she said.

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Georgia returns to controversial law

TBILISI (April 4): Georgia’s Ministry of Justice is reviewing a controversial law that will brand charities, pressure groups and opposition media outlets as agents of foreign influence.

The move comes just over a year after the law was dropped in the face of a public outcry and street protests in the capital, Tbilisi.

Parliamentary Leader of the ruling Georgian Dream Party, Mamuka Mdinaradze said  the legislation would be virtually unchanged, requiring organisations receiving funding from overseas to declare they were carrying out the interests of a foreign power.

Critics say the Bill will impose additional onerous reporting requirements, inspections, and administrative and criminal liability, including up to five years in prison for violations by what were, in most cases, civil society groups.

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Audit uncovers widespread fraud at Agency

MONROVIA (April 2): A damning audit of Liberia’s Civil Service Agency has prompted its newly-appointed Director-General, Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., to order a comprehensive overhaul.

The report, by the General Auditing Commission (GAC), found instances of fraudulent payments made to individuals for services not rendered and payments to ghost employees, resulting in “significant financial losses due to fraud and mismanagement of funds”.

The findings uncovered other irregularities, including the payment of full salaries to employees on study leave and unauthorised absences, highlighting serious flaws in payroll management. 

Mr Joekai, who took over the role earlier this year, said he was shocked by the report and especially the “astronomically” high expenditure on consultants that did not reflect the quality of consultancy provided. “This undermines the integrity and efficiency of the Civil Service and will be corrected,” he said.

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Civil Service exam critic slammed

NEW DELHI (April 4): Former senior Indian bureaucrats have slammed comments by a member of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s Economic Advisory Council, Sanjeev Sanyal, that up to eight years of preparation for the Civil Service examination by tens of thousands of students “is a waste of youthful energy”.

Former Finance Secretary, Arvind Mayaram said that while Mr Sanyal was welcome to his views, they were off the mark and smacked of gross ignorance.

"I believe that there is no service in the world that offers the wide canvas of experience of public policy and governance that determines the lives of common people,” Mr Mayaram said.

His criticisms were echoed by former Indian Administrative Service officer, M.G. Devasahayam who said Mr Sanyal had little knowledge of the Civil Service, seeing it through a corporate prism “and that is a mistake”.

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 Ministry seeks better product safety standards

TOKYO (April 7): In a move aimed at improving the safety of foreign-made products in Japan, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry will require overseas businesses that sell via the internet to appoint a person in Japan to supervise safety management and troubleshooting.

In a statement, the Ministry said with that person in place, it would be able to request the removal of products not meeting Japanese safety standards. The new law is expected to come into force next year.

In recent years, products that violate national safety standards have been sold directly to consumers online.

According to the Ministry, the number of serious incidents caused by products obtained online has increased from 73 in 2019 to 103 in 2022. These included fires caused by mobile batteries and damage to a child’s internal organs after they accidentally swallowed a toy that contained powerful magnets.

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Flexible work to ease Manila congestion

MANILA (April 4): The Philippines Civil Service Commission (CSC) says it will encourage flexible work arrangements across Government Agencies, recognising that rigid office working is prone to disruption and hinders productivity. 

The CSC cited the need to ease Metro Manila's road congestion by adopting remote work alternatives.

“Limiting physical reporting to offices can significantly reduce road congestion stemming from daily commutes. Allowing more personnel to accomplish tasks from home or remote locations will take pressure off the metro’s transportation infrastructure,” the CSC said in a statement.

“Adopting flexible work arrangements enables Agencies to become more resilient against disruptions, while promoting a better work-life balance for officials,” the statement said.

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PM backflips over Ramadan payment

KUALA LUMPUR (April 5): Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim has done a backflip over an end-of-Ramadan (Aidilfitri)  payment to the country’s Civil Servants, just days after saying there would be no such payment this year.

Mr Anwar announced a RM500 ($A159) special financial assistance Aidilfitri payment to Government employees on Grade 56 and below. He also agreed to distribute a similar amount to all Government retirees.

President of the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs), Adnan Mat said Mr Anwar’s change of heart proved the Prime Minister was always open to listening to the union’s views, even though he had initially refused a special Aidilftri payment.

“Therefore, Cuepacs expresses the highest appreciation and gratitude to the Government for agreeing to give the Aidilfitri,” Mr Adnan said.

 

A regular update of Public Service news and events from around the world.

 

 

Luxury train set for Winter Olympics

An Italian company formed from the inspiration provided by an old railway timetable has announced that the completion of its first winter program has been a great success.

 

Throughout the colder months FS Treni Turistici Italiani has been running an overnight express train service from Rome-to-Cortina, the Alpine town that will host the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

 

Company Chief Executive, Luigi Francesco Cantamessa says he got the idea of a train linking Rome with the Ampezzo Valley while browsing a 2011 railroad timetable of the now defunct Rome-Calalzo di Cadore run.

 

“We took the carriages that had been decommissioned and revitalised them with made-in-Italy furnishings. We are aiming for the full tourism experience,” Mr Cantamessa said. 

 

“There is nothing like the pleasure of dining with tables laid out with fabric tablecloths, and lying down at night, listening to the rolling wheels of the train.”

 

He said FS Treni Turistici Italiani was the only Italian company dedicated to tourist transportation.

 

“We want to reintroduce the traditional railway with glassed-in carriages for people to admire the view, sleeping cars, and restaurant cars where they can taste the food and wine specialties of the area.” Mr Cantamessa said.

 

“After our initial success we have plans to extend our service to other parts of Italy and beyond.” 

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PM visits military vehicle supplier

 

Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese has visited Rheinmetall’s 11-hectare facility at Redbank in South-East Queensland to view the work of the largest supplier of military vehicles to the Australian Defence Force.

 

The Prime Minister was shown production line, armour producing, welding and test track facilities.

 

Managing Director of Rheinmetall Defence Australia, Nathan Poyner said Mr Albanese‘s visit celebrated the largest-ever defence export and import order of more than 120 Heavy Weapon Carrier vehicles to the German Army.

 

He said the Heavy Weapon Carrier was based on the Boxer Combat Vehicle, the wheeled armoured reconnaissance vehicle of the Australian Defence Force, also supplied by Rheinmetall.

 

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Concern at Australian visa changes

New research has revealed that 41 per cent of international students in Australia are unaware of recent migration policy changes targeting international student visas in order to cut migration numbers.

More than four in five current and past international students have applied for, are in the process of applying for, or are likely to apply for an Australian permanent resident visa.  

Founder and Chief Executive of Ascent One, which carried out the research, Naresh Gulati said Australia risked sacrificing future citizens at its own cost.

“While the majority of students still recommend Australia as a place to study, our reputation as a world-class destination for study is shaky at best and needs urgent attention.” Mr Gulati said.

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Acquisition to boost supply of cancer drug

Paris-based nuclear medicine company, Curium has acquired Eczacıbaşı-Monrol Nuclear Product Co of Istanbul.

The acquisition is expected to bring together highly complementary geographical footprints, lutetium-177 (Lu-177) capabilities, and PET and SPECT nuclear medicine infrastructure, and will assist Curium in meeting the growing international demand for Lu-177 medicine.

Lu-177 is a new treatment for advanced metastatic prostate cancer, specifically targeting a molecule on the surface of prostate cancer cells called PSMA.

It has been proven to significantly increase prostate cancer survival rates and quality of life, as well as extend the time it takes for the disease to progress. 

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Watchmaker unveils its latest wonders

Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen, a brand ambassador for Swiss luxury watch manufacturer, IWC Schaffhausen, has appeared at the company’s booth for the opening of the Watches and Wonders trade show in Geneva.

This year’s IWC presentation is entitled A Tribute to Eternity, reflecting the endless cycle of day and night. On display at its booth are watches in new colours — silver moon, horizon blue, dune, and obsidian — all reflecting the overall theme of the day-night cycle.

 IWC also unveiled its new Portugieser collection with reworked designs, new colour codes, and new complications such as the Portugieser Eternal Calendar.

Public admission to the show is from April 13-to-15.

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Award for data protection company

Data protection company HYCU Inc., has received the 2024 Google Cloud Technology Partner of the Year Award for backup and disaster recovery.

Chief Executive and founder of HYCU Inc., Simon Taylor said that in a year when the threat landscape had evolved to put companies at an even higher risk of data loss due to cyber threats, HYCU had built an industry-leading solution on Google Cloud.

“HYCU’s innovation has also helped drive more growth for Google. All of us at HYCU are excited and proud to be named a Partner of the Year. It is yet another milestone as we look to solve the world’s modern data-protection challenges,” Mr Taylor said.

Based in Boston, Massachusetts, HYCU has so far raised $US140 million ($A212 million) in venture capital funding.

An occasional round-up of international business stories

 

 

International tourism ready to boom

People are finally shaking off their post-pandemic reluctance to travel and are making up for lost time, according to a new report from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). 

International wanderlust is projected to contribute a record $US11.1 trillion ($A16.9 trillion) to global economies this year, some $US770 billion ($A1.1 trillion) higher than the previous annual total.

The desire to travel is not just restricted to the wealthier nations, with the WTTC predicting that 142 out of 185 countries analysed will out-perform previous national records.

President and Chief Executive of the WTTC, Julia Simpson said the report, written in partnership with Oxford Economics, showcased a sector brimming with opportunities, underpinning almost 348 million jobs worldwide.

“This represents an increase of more than 13.6 million jobs compared to its highest point in 2019,” Ms Simpson said.

She said this growth had come despite two of the world’s biggest tourism markets lagging in terms of international visitor spending, with both the United States and China seeing a far slower return to previous levels.

Last year US’s international visitor spending remained more than a quarter below the peak of 2019, while China’s remained almost 60 per cent down.

“This is a risk; we need the US and Chinese Governments to support their national travel and tourism sectors,” Ms Simpson said.  

Despite this, the WTTC is forecasting that the next decade will be characterised by robust growth and unparalleled career opportunities, with tourism contributing a staggering $US16 trillion ($A24.3 trillion) to global economies annually, making up 11.4 per cent of the entire economic landscape.

“We believe travel and tourism is on the brink of its most transformative era yet, promising prosperity, innovation, and connection on a scale never seen before.” Ms Simpson said.

 

Resolute under fire: Officers plot EU course

KYIV (March 31): Living always with the possibility of Russian bombardment, Ukraine’s Civil Servants are working steadily and defiantly to lead the country towards membership of the European Union and a place among Western democracies.

Many senior officers in the 208,000-strong bureaucracy recognise the huge reforms that will be needed to be successful, but even as the Russian invaders put increasing pressure on Ukraine’s eastern front lines, they are determined to press on.

After the invasion, now more than two years old, the Civil Service swiftly transitioned to emergency mode by relocating to safer buildings, adopting more agile working practices, and expediting decision-making.

This resilience ensured that public services continued and State institutions functioned as well as they could under conditions of war, even as many officers had to relocate or leave the service altogether to join the army.

According to one official, this resilience also helped address the reputation for corruption that had grown up around Ukraine. “If the State really had been hollowed out by graft, it would have collapsed in a matter of days,” the official said.

While the 261,000 members of the armed forces are the heroes of the hour, the officer said it was the “the task of the Civil Service to win the peace after the army wins the war on the battlefield”.

This is especially important for Ukraine’s EU journey and the country’s recovery and reconstruction. It is, therefore, crucial for Ukraine and its international partners to invest in the capacities of Civil Servants.

Lesia Ogryzko, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, has called for Kyiv and the EU to cooperate on a comprehensive strategy to support the Civil Service.

“EU institutions, along with countries from the last two waves of EU accession, should offer Ukrainian Civil Servants extensive on-site training and experience-sharing sessions on the negotiation process, the negotiation framework, access to structural funds, and related topics,” Ms Ogryzko said.

“The EU should include Ukrainian Civil Servants in internal discussions around the shape of the reforms that are needed, so that they can consider them from the perspective of a future member State.”

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NZ Parliament ‘hacked by Chinese’

WELLINGTON (March 29): New Zealand intelligence services have accused a Chinese cyber espionage group, known as Advanced Persistent Threat 40 (APT 40), of being involved in a cyber hack on Parliament in 2021.

The State-sponsored APT 40 is believed to have gathered technical information on Parliamentary services that would have allowed for more intrusive activity in the future. Nothing of a sensitive or strategic nature was reportedly stolen in this initial raid.

Authorities also said that seven New Zealand citizens allegedly provided training to China’s military in the past 18 months, which a top intelligence official said constituted a “major national security risk”.

Foreign Minister, Winston Peters said actions like this were unacceptable. “We have urged China to refrain from such activity in future,” Mr Peters said.

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Rutte closer to NATO’s top job

THE HAGUE (April 2): Support is growing for current Dutch Caretaker Prime Minister, Mark Rutte to become the next Secretary-General of NATO, after Lithuania and Estonia came on board.

This means 28 of the 32 NATO States are now backing Mr Rutte, who will step down from his caretaker position as soon as a new Netherlands Government is formed after post-election negotiations are completed.

Lithuanian President, Gitanas Nauseda said Mr Rutte was one of the first European politicians to recognise the Russian threat to NATO generally after the invasion of Ukraine.

Estonian Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas announced her position on X, saying a strong NATO should focus on Russia, increase defence spending and support Ukraine's membership. "I have discussed this in depth with Mark Rutte and he commits to these priorities,” she said.

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Departments in dark over failing staff

LONDON (April 1): A report by the United Kingdom National Audit Office (NAO) has found that almost one in five Government Departments do not know how many under-performing workers they have — and most are unable to say how much it costs to hire new staff.

The NAO, which oversees public spending, said 11 out of 16 Departments also failed to identify how long it takes for new recruits to pass security vetting.

The report comes against a backdrop of promised cuts to the Civil Service and increased workload pressures in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit and the cost-of-living crisis.

Head of the NAO, Gareth Davies said the Cabinet Office and Departments “need to work together more effectively to drive efficiency” to help the Civil Service meet the challenges it faces.

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Officers told to ‘stand-up’ to Ministers

SINGAPORE (March 27): Singaporean Civil Servants have been urged to stand up to Ministers if they disagree with what the politicians are doing — an absolute necessity if the country’s democratic system is to work properly.

Senior Minister, Teo Chee Hean said that as a young political office-holder, he benefited from the wise counsel of many senior Civil Servants.

“They spoke and acted with integrity and courage, and I have great respect for them. It reminds me these days to listen and learn from younger officers so that they are encouraged to share their considered views and to justify them,” Mr Teo said in a speech to senior bureaucrats at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

“However, besides speaking truth to power, Civil Servants need to bring power to truth, convincing Ministers through the conviction behind their ideas and advice.”

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Officials question proposed border law

HELSINKI (April 2): Officers from the Finnish Border Guard have taken issue with the Government in its attempt to introduce legislation to discourage the Russian ‘weaponisation’ of migrants on the border between the two countries.

A statement issued by the officials argues that the proposed Bill would violate the foundations of the Finnish State, threatening constitutional order and rule-of-law principles.

“The obvious conflicts between the Bill and other binding pieces of legislation that regulate the actions of officers will result in situations where the official interpreting and enacting the law cannot, in practice, avoid violating their official duty,” the officers claimed.

The Bill would enable the Government to temporarily suspend the right of people to seek international protection at and in the immediate vicinity of borders. During such a suspension, border officers would have the authority to remove people from Finnish soil.

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Korean bureaucrats rushing to the exit

SEOUL (March 27): An alarming exodus of South Korean Public Servants has been identified by the Korea Institute of Public Administration (KIPA), with as many as 13,566 officers quitting their jobs less than five years into their careers in 2023 — 3,020 walking out in their first year.

The KIPA identified low pay as the biggest drawback, with the starting salary of an entry-level worker fixed at ₩1,877,000 won ($A2,128), less than the monthly minimum wage of  ₩2,060,000 won ($A2,335) .

“The rigid and demanding bureaucratic work culture also is a damper. Unpaid overtime is a norm, and many often have to devote their weekends to handling Local Government events,” the KIPA said.  

“There are also many complaints about dumping the most difficult work on a new recruit, while assigning simple office work to a senior.”

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Management blamed for productivity failings

KINGSTON (March 29): As the Jamaican Government moves to implement the next phase of its public sector compensation review, Prime Minister, Andrew Holness has reiterated a call for increased productivity in the bureaucracy.

“The public sector is made up of people; we have to get those people to be more efficient — however, productivity is a complex issue, partly driven by motivation fuelled by compensation,” the Prime Minister said.

Mr Holness said a key part of productivity is management “and the culture of managing our resources for efficient delivery is not a culture that is deeply entrenched in our Public Service”.

He said the Government had put in place the compensation review program, which in part was about increasing pay levels, “so this should be a major motivating factor”.

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Mayoral candidate killed on street

MEXICO CITY (April 2): A candidate for Mayor in one of Mexico’s most violent cities has been gunned down and killed while campaigning for the position. Three other people, including an aspirant for a Council position, were wounded.

Gisela Gaytán, the Morena Party’s candidate for Mayor of Celaya, Guanajuato, was delivering an address on the street in San Miguel Octopan, a suburb about 10 kilometres north-east of downtown Celaya.

The murder came just one day after the campaign period officially got under way in Guanajuato ahead of elections on June 2.

Just hours before she was killed, Ms Gaytán (38) had asked for protection during her campaign in Celaya, a city of more than half a million people in south-eastern Guanajuato, Mexico’s most violent State in terms of total homicides.

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Problem-solving bureaucrats praised 

 

ABUJA (March 28): The head of Nigeria’s Civil Service has commended bureaucrats for their performance in the “transformative and innovative service” introduced by the Federal Government.

 

Speaking at an award ceremony for the 2023 Innovation Competition, Folasade Yemi-Esan said officers had been able to find solutions to many issues.

 

“It is pleasing to note that our resolve to sustain innovation in the service and discourage the suppression of ideas is yielding tangible results,” Ms Yemi-Esan said.

 

“Nigerian Civil Servants can produce the best results when they are engaged and provided with an enabling environment to express themselves in their work.”

 

A regular update of Public Service news and events from around the world