CSC publishes policy for dismissal of civil servants

Civil Service Commission (CSC) has published a policy for termination of civil servants from their posts.

The policy took effect this Tuesday.

CSC says the purpose of the policy was to create uniformity within all State agencies in dealing with termination of civil servants.

President of CSC, Dr. Ali Shameem reported to ‘Sun’ that the policy published this Tuesday details the Civil Service Regulation – which was previously used for termination of civil servants.

“These are certain changes with the transitioning of a new administration. The changes to the government ministries, formation of new government ministries, and transfer of work by some ministries – this requires a uniform policy,” said Shameem.

The policy says a civil servant can be terminated from his or her post if it meets any of the eight conditions stated in Article 223 of the Civil Service Regulation.

Civil servants need to be given a three-week notice prior to termination – during which period they must be provided with the salary and allowances they are due.

The policy says the office which will maintain the attendance of civil servants on notice if his or her office is being dissolved will be decided by the CSC.

And the attendance of civil servants in a situation when the duties of one office is transferred to another will be maintained by the office to which the work is transferred to.

The policy also empowers offices to terminate a civil servant on notice after paying the salary for the notice period if the office does not require the services of the civil servant.

If the civil servant put on notice is or comes to 55 years of age during the notice period, the civil servant will receive be treated as an involuntary retiree and receive all the incentives due to an involuntary retiree as per authority of CSC under Article 224 of the Civil Service Regulation.

The policy also details a merit-based ranking system for termination of civil servants, which will take into consideration education, work experience, training, performance, attendance and work ethic.