Government kick-starts Public Services retrenchments, 528 struck-off payroll




Prisca Mupfumira
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Government has started implementing the rationalisation of the civil service following Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa’s 2018 National Budget presentation.

The Public Service Commission said that 528 workers will be struck off Government’s pay roll by 31 December in circular addressed to the permanent secretaries in the Health and Child Care, Women and Youth Affairs, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Environment, Water and Climate and Information Communication Technology and Cyber Security Ministries.

The Public Service Commission said that it will remove those without required qualifications in terms of Section 18 (4) (e) (ii) of the Public Service Regulations. The circular reads:

Reference is made to a letter from the Honourable Minister of Finance and Economic Development addressed to the Chairman, Public Service Commission referenced C/47/112 dated 7 December, 2017.

Please be advised that at its 38th meeting of 5 December 2017 Cabinet directed tho five hundred and twenty eight (528) members of the Public Service without requisite qualifications be retired in terms of Section 18 (4) (e) (ii) of the Public Service Regulations with immediate effect.

The members shall be struck off the Salary Service Bureau Pay Sheet by 31 December 2017.

Presenting the 2018 National Budget, Chinamasa revealed that Government will retire all civil servants above 65 years starting January 2018. He also said that Government will remove duplication of posts in line with the leaner cabinet that has been put in place. Said Chinamasa:

A number of public officials continue to be engaged in the public service well beyond their retirement age. In this regard, from January 2018 Government will, through the Service Commissions, retire staff above the age of 65. Staff that retire will be assisted with access to capital, to facilitate their meaningful contribution towards economic development, including taking advantage of allocated land, for those who are beneficiaries of the land reform programme.

Furthermore, Government will also introduce a voluntary retirement scheme that serves to rationalise the public service wage bill, whilst providing financial incentives to beneficiaries to engage in economic activities in such areas as farming, and start-up of small business enterprises.

Source: Pindula