August 14 ,2020
Dear Editor
If one reads and interprets correctly, there appears to be an inordinate rush to terminate ‘contracts’ of those senior public servants identified (however hastily) as ‘Political appointees’.
This is an interesting development pursued by the very creators of the system of ‘contracted employment’ during their previous regime.
Unfortunately this pattern of employment into the Public Service was instinctively followed by the recent administration to the extent of fundamental organisational illogic, which one fears would be not only irredeemable; but likely to be repeated if only through compulsive habit.
The concern here is about the lower levels of employees officially categorised over the last three decades as ‘Skilled’, ‘Semi-skilled’ and ‘Unskilled’.
At this time of rapid technological development there appears need to pause and reflect on the need, and moreso the relevance, of such ‘skills’ – so identified in the absence of any credible evaluation system at any previous time.
This concern is raised as a general one against the background of the manifestoed provision of tens of thousands of yet unidentified categories and levels of jobs.
As it so happens the National Estimates of 2019 reveal the following preponderance of the categories, of which it would unsurprising if a significant percentage were not ‘contracted employees’ (and replaceable).
The Tables below speak for themselves.
Arguably there is need to interpret the relevance of the above numbers to the undertaking to provide more jobs – albeit in unspecified markets and operational locations.
Who will constitute the evaluation and selection teams when the undertakings translate into identified jobs?
Yours faithfully,
E.B. John