Minister of State for the Public Service Pia Glover-Rolle said the government is seeking to change the public service’s pension system to a contributory one for new hires.
The move would represent a major shift in government policy.
However, Glover-Rolle noted that the system in its current form is unsustainable, especially given the state of the economy.
“With the economy being the way it is, we want to look at when we engage new persons into the service. We’re exploring the option of a contributory pension because no longer can we afford to take on the burden as a government,” she told public servants on Grand Bahama on Friday.
“So, any new hires would now be invited to a contributory pension. And that is the way forward. It’s the best way for us to do it. That’s just the only way our pension plan can survive. And in our analysis, it looks like that’s the way to go. And that’s what we’re leaning towards.”
As the Ministry of Public Service continues to review promotions and work to confirm employees, Glover-Rolle also noted that all confirmations will be strictly merit based.
She said the public service cannot continue to be a “dumping ground”.
“We’re looking at confirming everybody that needs to be confirmed, and I’m going to stress this, who do not have adverse reports,” Glover-Rolle said.
“You cannot work in the private sector and you’re late, absent, showing up and performing at a low level, and be engaged.
“This is not a dumping ground. The public service is not a dumping ground. The public service is no longer going to be the place where people say, ‘Well, I just need a job.’
“We want to attract the best and the brightest.”
Glover-Rolle said that it is important to have deserving employees confirmed, noting that many public sector employees have been waiting for years.
She said the ministry is looking at a “blanket permanent and pensionable exercise”, where everyone who has been working since at least 2016 will be confirmed in their positions, so long as they have had no adverse reports.
“There are persons waiting to be confirmed in the service who have been performing in roles for decades,” she said.
“There are persons waiting to be confirmed in the service who have passed on and retired but are still waiting to be confirmed. I’m sorry but that is a disservice.”
Glover-Rolle said assessments are underway for promotions, reclassifications, and confirmations, which she said will be “service-wide”.
Last month, she said a review was underway of over 400 promotions and hires that took place in the last seven to eight weeks of the Minnis administration.
At the time, Glover-Rolle said there was also another assessment taking place, which was “for the advancement of the 2017 service-wide promotions that were on hold since 2017”.
She said 500 promotions are impacted by that assessment.
The post Contributory public service pension for new hires being eyed appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/contributory-public-service-pension-for-new-hires-being-eyed/
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