Jerome Kado, managing partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, has emphasized the need for the private sector to extract higher productivity from the civil service, particularly in light of the recent salary increases announced in the 2024-2025 National Budget. He voiced his concerns at a post-budget breakfast event in Suva, organized by FCEF.
Kado pointed out that despite many diligent workers in the civil service, project results are not seen quickly enough. Many projects are delayed, which he attributes to an outdated culture. He called for a short to medium term plan to improve the speed and efficiency of project completion.
The response came from Mr Prasad who mentioned that productivity issues are also a topic of discussion within the government. He acknowledged the need for a shift from the status quo and urged government officials to find ways to accelerate processes and approvals within the constraints of existing policies and laws.
Prasad highlighted the link between increased salaries and productivity. He said, by ensuring employees’ satisfaction and decent wages, they can potentially boost the overall productivity, which is beneficial for the economy and businesses in the long run.
Prasad also announced a comprehensive review of the civil service structure to promote efficiency and productivity, considering there are 42,000 publicly funded civil service employees with a total wage bill of about $1.2 billion.