WELLINGTON (March 26): The New Zealand Government’s determination to slash the Public Service is proving to be a bonanza for recruitment agencies as workers head for the exit in an attempt to beat the expected rush.
The Ministry for Primary Industries has announced it is looking to cut 231 staff, while the Ministry of Health is consulting on cutting 180 roles.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has made a second call on its staff to accept voluntary redundancy.
It has already received 111 applications, and those staff will be leaving on March 31.
Senior Director at the Robert Walters Agency, Bridget Clarke said the Public Service cuts were set to have a big impact in Wellington.
"We've definitely seen an uplift in candidate applications and there's also been a rise in the quality of candidates applying for roles," Ms Clarke said.
"We've seen applications from candidates with exceptional skills and talent, so if you're a hiring manager, now's a great time to be looking to hire."
Ms Clarke said many in the public sector would have skills that were transferrable to other areas.
However, it remained to be seen how many would be willing to transfer out of Wellington, to big job markets like Auckland and Australia.
"Remote working will be interesting to watch. Post-COVID, we've obviously seen an uplift in remote working, so that will be something that people can consider," Ms Clarke said
She said Robert Walters' eight Australian offices had already seen an increase in enquiries from New Zealand workers.
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Minister plans ‘transformation’ of judiciary
BUENOS AIRES (March 22): Argentina’s Justice Minister, Mariano Cúneo Libarona says he plans an “absolute transformation” of Argentina’s justice system, including steps to change the penal code and introduce trial by jury.
Calling it an historic moment in Argentina’s history, Mr Libarona said there would be a complete change to the accusatory system, as all cases would be assessed by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which would then decide how to proceed.
"This means the presence of a prosecutor who investigates, the defence and an impartial, different judge who performs the essential jurisdictional tasks," he said.
“Every case goes to the Public Prosecutor who analyses whether the case is worth investigating or whether it is insignificant; whether an abbreviated trial or a conciliation approach can be proposed."
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President pressured over anti-gay law
ACCRA (March 22): The Speaker of Ghana's Parliament says he will block approval of new Ministers until President Nana Akufo-Addo signs an anti-LGBTQ+ Bill approved by Parliament last month.
Speaker, Alban Bagbin has condemned as “contemptuous” the President’s delay over the legislation, that criminalises gay relationships and anyone who supports them.
President Akufo-Addo is under intense pressure from those Ghanaians who want him to sign it into law, and from Western donors and human rights groups who are urging him not to approve it.
The Bill has been challenged in the Supreme Court on the ground there was not a quorum in Parliament when it was passed, and Presidential Secretary, Nana Asante Bediatuo said it would be improper for the President to sign it until the court makes a decision on the matter.
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Inflation-linked pay rise for officers
PRETORIA (March 21): South Africa’s Department of Public Service and Administration has announced that the country’s Civil Servants will receive a 4.7 per cent pay rise from April 1.
This is in line with a two-year wage deal signed by public sector trade unions in March last year which guaranteed a wage increase of 7.5 per cent for 2023-24 and an inflation-linked wage rise for 2024-25.
Department spokesperson, Moses Mushi said the figure was based on the South African Reserve Bank’s forecast from the second quarter of 2024 to the end of the first quarter of 2025, which was about 4.6 per cent.
In addition, qualifying bureaucrats, including the lowest-paid and those who have received a satisfactory performance rating, will also receive a ‘pay progression’ increase of 1.5 per cent from July.
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Union hits back over work-shy allegation
SAINT PETER PORT (March 23): A former Deputy Chief Minister of Guernsey has accused the Channel Island’s Public Servants of trying to avoid work they are mandated to do.
Mark Helyar made the allegation after it was found officials knew about a potential £30 million ($A58 million) hospital cost overrun, saying that the message 'we don't have any money' did not seem to be getting through to the Civil Service.
A spokesperson for Prospect, the union which represents Civil Servants in Guernsey, said union members were dedicated and had no right of reply when criticised.
"We would like to remind everyone that the Civil Service is a body of people that works hard, often in demanding circumstances, to ensure that islanders receive effective public services across a wide range of areas,” the spokesperson said.
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Black Civil Service charge ‘divisive’
HAMILTON (March 25): A union representing Bermuda’s Public Servants has condemned comments made by Opposition candidate, Robert King as “deeply divisive”.
Mr King, who represents the One Bermuda Alliance, said young Bermudians were leaving the island because “they don’t feel their needs are getting addressed by a Black Government and a Black Civil Service who you would expect to be well equipped to deal with Black problems”.
President of the Bermuda Public Services Union, Armell Thomas said attributing the decision to leave the island solely to the racial composition of the Civil Service was not only misguided but deeply divisive.
“It undermines the integrity and dedication of every member of our diverse Civil Service who work tirelessly to serve Bermuda with unwavering commitment, regardless of race,” Mr Thomas said.
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Long road ahead to EU membership
SARAJEVO (March 22): Bosnia-Herzegovina’s path to membership of the European Union is open — but it is likely to be a long journey.
EU leaders have agreed in principle to begin membership negotiations after the European Commission agreed to start talks in spite of deep, lingering ethnic divisions in the nation of 3.2 million inhabitants.
President of the European Council, which defines the general political direction of the bloc, Charles Michel said Bosnia-Herzegovina’s place was with the European family, but a lot of work remained to be done.
He emphasised the need for the to keep on taking “all relevant steps set out by the Commission that include economic, judicial and political reforms as well as better efforts to tackle corruption and money laundering”.
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PM rejects end-of-Ramadan bonus
KUALA LUMPUR (March 26): Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim says there will be no special bonus payment for the country’s Civil Servants to mark the end of Ramadan (Hari Raya Aidilfitri), breaking a decade-long tradition.
Mr Anwar said Government workers should have put aside part of the recent RM2,000 ($A648) early incentive payment for the celebration.
However, he sought to soften the blow by hinting there would be benefits, including salary increments, for Civil Servants once the review of the Public Service Remuneration System Study had been completed.
The Prime Minister was responding to a call from the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services to provide a Hari Raya Aidilfitri allowance to Civil Servants and Government retirees.
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Top bureaucrat quits male-only club
LONDON (March 21): The head of the United Kingdom Civil Service, Simon Case has resigned from the all-male private members’ Garrick Club after being questioned by MPs about his involvement in the institution.
His resignation comes despite having claimed to MPs that he was working to reform the club, saying it was “easier to change the all-male rule from within rather than chuck rocks from the outside”.
His comments came after The Guardian newspaper published the Garrick Club’s membership list, which it claimed included the King, Deputy Prime Minister, Oliver Dowden and Sir Richard Moore, the head of MI6. Sir Richard is also reported to have quit the club.
Mr Case had been asked by Labour MP, Liam Byrne whether he could “foster a genuine culture of inclusiveness” in the Civil Service “while being a member of an all-male club”.
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