The Public Service Commission Ministry will be abolished effective on December 31st as part of the reforms in the civil service.

The government’s has expressed disappointment with the slow start of reforms due to the World Bank.

Finance Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says a new Ministry of Civil Service will be established on 1st January after a review of the role and functions of the current Public service commission ministry by the reform management unit.

In a complete overhaul of current systems, Sayed-Khaiyum says some functions of the soon to be scrapped PSC will move to different ministries along with the relevant staff.

“The new Ministry of civil service will be much leaner with functions specifically designed to support ministries to carry out their constitutional responsibilities while maintaining central coordination of key areas to ensure consistency across the civil service. Scholarships will move to TSLB, the volunteer scheme will move to NEC, the financing of government properties will move to the Ministry of finance national asset management unit, positions of the new ministry of civil service will be, advertised later this month for open merit selection.”

The 2016 budget includes funding for staff carrying out transition duties, funding for the staff of the new ministry and any remote possibility of redundancies which may need to be paid if staff are not transferred to another ministry by 29th February, 2016.

The civil service has also developed a guideline for ministries to fully implement open merit selection for all position within the civil service.

The budget for salaries of new Permanent Secretaries will be managed by the PSC enabling transparency, accountability for this key position.