Poor pay behind civil servants quitting jobs

THE high turnover of qualified and well-trained staff continues to dog the public service, with low salaries cited as the major reason.

In its annual report for 2003-04 presented to the National Assembly on Tuesday, the Public Service Commission says that in the past year it was regularly approached by ministries to recommend salary adjustments for certain job categories to retain the services of existing staff or to attract suitably qualified people for other posts. As of March this year, 76 373 people were employed as civil servants.During the past year, 1 781 people left the public service – the largest number (721) from the Basic Education sector, followed by the Health Ministry (387).Almost half the staff turnover was attributed to resignations and 22 per cent to deaths.The Basic Education Ministry also lost the highest number of staff (45) to voluntary early retirement during 2003 as well as the highest number because of medical reasons (80).In total, 64 people retired from the public service before the retirement age of 55; another 165 were discharged for medical reasons.The Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Joseph Ithana, notes that the lack of qualified and experienced people in many fields, particularly the sciences, had caused the public service to rely on employing foreigners, especially in the Ministry of Health and Social Services.Of the 116 foreigners employed by Government, 76 work in the health sector while another 13 are employed in education.The contracts of at least 110 expatriates had to be renewed during the period under review – 66 of them to allow for their continued service in the country’s health service.The Public Service Commission approved the appointment of 57 people in management posts between April 2003 and March 2004 – 49 of which were in the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing.The report says this can be largely attributed to the restructuring of regional councils.At least 83 new appointments were made in posts below managerial level – the largest number also in the Regional and Local Government and Housing Ministry, followed by the Ministries of Labour and Health.The Attorney General’s office also saw the highest number of promotions to managerial posts during 2003-4 – 13 of the total number of 50.At least 454 people were promoted to ordinary level posts – almost a quarter of them in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development, followed by Finance and Health.Of the 21 people suspended from the civil service during the period under review, 10 were for fraud, while another five were suspended for sexual relationships with school-goers.Government also discharged 56 people from its employ for misconduct – the largest number (19) from the Health Ministry and another five each from the Ministries of Agriculture, Basic Education and Environment.As of March this year, 76 373 people were employed as civil servants.During the past year, 1 781 people left the public service – the largest number (721) from the Basic Education sector, followed by the Health Ministry (387).Almost half the staff turnover was attributed to resignations and 22 per cent to deaths.The Basic Education Ministry also lost the highest number of staff (45) to voluntary early retirement during 2003 as well as the highest number because of medical reasons (80).In total, 64 people retired from the public service before the retirement age of 55; another 165 were discharged for medical reasons.The Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Joseph Ithana, notes that the lack of qualified and experienced people in many fields, particularly the sciences, had caused the public service to rely on employing foreigners, especially in the Ministry of Health and Social Services.Of the 116 foreigners employed by Government, 76 work in the health sector while another 13 are employed in education.The contracts of at least 110 expatriates had to be renewed during the period under review – 66 of them to allow for their continued service in the country’s health service.The Public Service Commission approved the appointment of 57 people in management posts between April 2003 and March 2004 – 49 of which were in the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing.The report says this can be largely attributed to the restructuring of regional councils.At least 83 new appointments were made in posts below managerial level – the largest number also in the Regional and Local Government and Housing Ministry, followed by the Ministries of Labour and Health.The Attorney General’s office also saw the highest number of promotions to managerial posts during 2003-4 – 13 of the total number of 50.At least 454 people were promoted to ordinary level posts – almost a quarter of them in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development, followed by Finance and Health.Of the 21 people suspended from the civil service during the period under review, 10 were for fraud, while another five were suspended for sexual relationships with school-goers.Government also discharged 56 people from its employ for misconduct – the largest number (19) from the Health Ministry and another five each from the Ministries of Agriculture, Basic Education and Environment.