Jobs for grabs

[posted 15 June 2010, 1430]

The PSC is to spend some $2 million to hire consultants to ‘streamline’ the public service.

We are informed that money has been set aside for an organizational study/review of the civil service. Expressions of interest had been invited and closed on 12 June 2010.

According to the advertisement, the consultancy assignment requires well qualified persons with experience/expertise in reforms of public administration, human resources, manpower planning and development. Job evaluation and remuneration review is also to be conducted.

We are reliably informed that a former Peoples Charter gentleman, who lives abroad, is frantically lobbying for the consultancy and has quoted $1.8 million for the assignment. Although he does not have the requisite qualifications, it will not be surprising if he lands the job.

So much for having contacts in the right places.

Outsourcing

Whilst on the public service, the PSC is reported be engaged in developing an outsourcing policy which may result in most employees in the Ministry of Works being sent home.

Surprisingly though, the Commission is also considering outsourcing data entry and verification of vouchers and records. This has set alarm bells ringing in several ministries and departments.

The objective, according to top sources, is to reduce the public service by 10,000 by 2012! The security forces are, of course, not affected and do not feature in any right sizing exercise.