The section in the Public Service Act 1999 which deals with recruitment on ethnic grounds in the civil service will be removed after the passing of the Public Service Amendment Bill in the last hour.
The Public Service Amendment Bill states that this provision is discriminatory and contradicts the principle of non‑discrimination based on ethnicity within the work environment.
Under the Public Service Act 1999, the section dealing with Public Service Values stated that the composition of the public service reflects as closely as possible the ethnic composition of the population, taking account, when appropriate, of occupational preferences.
During the debate on the bill, Opposition MP Viliame Gavoka said he is concerned that this section is being removed.
In response, Attorney General, Sayed-Khaiyum said 1964 was 5 decades ago and those were the days when non Whites could not even swim at the Suva Swimming Baths and there was nothing like the Bill of Rights that we now have in the country.
He also says that it is an insult to people from one ethnic group if some say that they won’t be able to get a job if the provision is not there.
Meanwhile to go in line with the constitution, the amended law makes the Public Service Commission responsible only for permanent secretaries, whilst permanent secretaries are responsible for all staff within the ministries.
The sections in the Act which provide for a Senior Executive Service and implies closed merit selection are also amended as the Civil Service Reform is moving towards position based and open merit selection.
