Public service scale down operations

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The National Government is scaling down public service operations as of today.

A government statement says cabinet has made the decision last Thursday and has instructed the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service to advise public servants of this process.

Under this latest measure, public servants under the non-essential services are authorized to take emergency paid leave of absence as of March 31st until further notice.

It says after a 30 days leave period, public officers’ remuneration will be on half-pay until they are recalled to duty.

On resumption to duty, officers’ salaries will be reinstated in full while the other fifty percent of the salary withheld during emergency leave will be repaid in full.

It says salaries of non-established employees at grade levels 1 and 2 will continue to be paid in full whether they are taking emergency leave or remain at work.

The statement says Public Officers taking emergency leave will be supported with a travelling assistance of Two-thousand five hundred dollars as a one-off payment irrespective of their leave destinations.

Meanwhile, the Honiara City Council, HCC, has also scaled down on it’s non essential services as of yesterday.


The scaling down is based on the assessment of the Honiara City Clerk.


HCC says the action was agreed to during the Full Council Meeting last Friday.


HCC will only retain skeleton staff from the essential services to work in the frontline against the coronavirus pandemic with supporting staff required to provide minimal services during the existing period of State of Public Emergency.


“The Council’s greatest priority and concern is it’s staff’s health, safety and welfare.”

HCC said, a number of staff have been released off duties while others are taking their annual leave.

HCC says this is part of the Council’s preparedness and actions to respond to the threat and prevention of the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic in the country.

SIBC News is aware that other organizations are also taking similar actions.

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