The government has initiated reforms for civil servants with assistance from the Australian government. This information was disclosed by the Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad, during a discussion in Nadi in response to a query from Dr. Ram Raju, Chair of the Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who inquired about the possibility of wage increases for civil servants.
Dr. Raju asked, “For the increase in wages for the civil service, how is the government going to enhance their activities?”
Minister Prasad emphasized the importance of ensuring the well-being of civil servants as part of the reforms. He noted that significant budgets were allocated to various ministries which remained underutilized.
“For instance, we are tackling environmental issues such as the water supply for Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. If ministries like public works and lands do not effectively plan and systematically deliver, these goals will not be realized,” he said.
Last year, a substantial budget was allocated to the health ministry. Prasad highlighted that the utilization of these funds was inadequate, resulting in delays in the arrival of medical supplies, such as drugs, and hindering service delivery.
The minister stressed the need for civil servants, particularly permanent secretaries, to ensure efficient delivery of services in line with the allocated budgets.
Prasad also revealed plans to establish a training institute for civil servants as part of the ongoing reforms.