Government jobs on hold amid rising global fuel costs

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has frozen all vacancies and issued directives on acting appointments, overseas travel and overtime payments.

A finance circular detailing the decision was issued to all permanent secretaries on Wednesday.

PSC chairman Luke Rokovada confirmed the move to this masthead.

The decision is part of the Government’s cost-cutting measures in response to the global fuel price shock triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The circular stated that no new vacancies are to be advertised or processed during the freeze period. It also said no new acting appointments would be allowed, except for existing acting appointments, which will continue.

For overseas travel, only fully funded travel arrangements will be approved.

“This includes incidental and transit allowances where these are not covered by development partners,” the circular stated.

“Any costs arising from early arrival or late departure must be borne by the respective ministries.”

Permanent secretaries have also been directed to submit funded travel requests through the normal process.

However, officers below the rank of permanent secretary must submit overseas travel requests to the Ministry of Civil Service for travel deemed essential in the national interest.

The circular also stated that overtime payments would continue for officers in salary bands A to E, and nurses in salary band F.

However, officers in salary band F and above who work overtime will be granted time off in lieu on an hour-for-hour basis.

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