Public Service Commission

Law to end interference in Vanuatu commission

The government and opposition have voted in favour of the Public Service Amendment Act.

The opposition leader Ishmael Kalsakau said the prime minister had to cut off the political hand that had been interfering in the commission for years.

Mr Kalsakau, a former government minister, said too many members of the commission were political appointees.

The prime minister had to go all the way to end political interference in the selection of commission members, he said.

 

Retirement age rule goes to Cabinet

The retirement package is being refined for Cabinet to examine.

The Public Service Commission confirmed there is no mandatory retirement age in Public Service legislation or policy at present. 

Nor is there an age at which a public servant can opt to take voluntary retirement. Cook Islanders can begin collecting the old age pension at 60.

Cabinet is also going to be told public sector employee level is reaching the same critical number as in 1996 and hard decisions will need to be made to rein back the current government growth rate.