PSC alarmed over “dismissals” of public servants…Former Govt. used contracts to control workers - Harmon

PSC alarmed over “dismissals” of public servants…Former Govt. used contracts to control workers – Harmon

Aug 22, 2015 News

The previous administration used contracts for its employees in the public service as a means to control them.
Responding to questions yesterday over the number of employees whose contracts were not renewed or were

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

sent home, Minister of State Joseph Harmon could not immediately say how many staffers were affected. He was certain that the number was not in the thousands.
The minister was at the time speaking at the post-Cabinet briefing.
Several persons, including Permanent Secretaries, Ministerial Advisors and social media bloggers, either had their services terminated or were sent home when the new coalition Government took office in May, following victory in the General and Regional Elections.
Government had made it clear that many of the positions were created for the employees to do political work, but were paid by Government.
According to Harmon yesterday, the new coalition Government is not concerned with the political parties that anyone chooses to endorse or even what their political views are.
Once there is Government work being done, there should be no fear.
“But if you are being paid by Government to do party work, we have a problem with that… because the party must pay for that.”
The official, promising to address the matter in his budget presentation later yesterday afternoon, stressed that there are persons who are on contracts which can prove to be jeopardy.
In the case of the last administration, this seems to be the case.
Harmon explained that employees in the traditional public service cannot be fired “just like that”, as there are procedures to be followed.
The PPP Government encouraged and forced workers to go on contracts, offering inducements like six-month gratuities, among other things.
“What that did is that it gives the Government control over these public servants, because every time the contract comes up for renewal… that if they did not behave in a certain way, they are penalized.”
The PPP, now in Opposition, has been crying foul, accusing the administration of witch-hunting.
The Ministry of the Presidency had itself said that the secretariat had been overstaffed by almost 200 persons.
Yesterday, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) issued a statement expressing deep concern of “the many terminations and dismissals in the public sector which have been occurring recently. The Commission is particularly concerned about the perceived political influence over these dismissals with the authorities not adhering to established procedures and not allowing for natural justice.”
According to the business body, the laws which govern terminations of service are clear, that just and sufficient cause for dismissals must be established and that such cause must relate to the conduct and capacity of the employee.
“The Termination of Employment Act further places the burden of proof for establishing cause on the employer and, consequently, if just and sufficient cause cannot be established, there can be no valid or lawful grounds for dismissal.”
PSC said that the great majority of those “dismissed/terminated in public humiliation gives credence to widespread perception of political discrimination and victimization despite human rights guaranteed in our Constitution and labour laws and in international treaties (Conventions).”
The body said that the PSC is alarmed at the climate of fear which has arisen in the national community because of what is being seen as selective dismissals and “would like to urge that the labour laws on termination and discrimination and best practices in human resource management be followed to allay fears of victimization and political discrimination.”
“The Private Sector Commission calls the State and its agents to build confidence and cultivate an environment conducive to fostering national trust through fairness, equality of treatment, non-discrimination, and social justice for all citizens.”