Talks continue on civil service cuts

October 22, 2009 11:50:24 AM

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Fiji’s Prime Minister and the head of the civil service are expected to hold further talks next week on the proposed reform of the country’s public sector.

Public Service Commission chairman Josefa Serulagilagi told FijiLive that he had been in consultations with PM Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama since the latter put the Voluntary Redundancy Plan on hold last September, due to insufficient funds.

The plan was scheduled for next year and involved shedding almost 21,000 of the country’s 42,000 civil servants.

“Some of the reforms needed some legal opinions and it’s with the Solicitor General’s office. Things are still going backwards and forwards from PSC to PM’s Office,” said Serulagilagi.

Serulagilagi hopes the reform will be done by early next year as intended.

He had earlier said that an ideal number for civil servants would be to halve the current number on the government pay roll.

“Most government departments have positions when there is no need for it and those will be removed,” said Serulagilagi.

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