Union says 'loss of experienced leadership roles is a bad move'
The Public Service Commission (PSC) is proposing to reduce its headcount by 37, or nearly 20% of its workforce, as part of the government's widespread cost-cutting measures in the public sector, according to reports.
Radio New Zealand reported that PSC is proposing the disestablishment of 24 roles and is offering 13 people voluntary redundancy.
The proposal will also reduce to four the number of tier-two leaders and will decrease the number of other members of leadership to 21.
PSC said it is already consulting with staff on the proposal, and no final decisions have been made, according to the RNZ report.
The layoffs come after the commission was ordered by the government cut 7.5% of its spending as part of its widespread cost-cutting measure in the public sector that has also affected Oranga Tamariki, WorkSafe, Ministry of Social Development, among others.
Layoffs not making sense
Meanwhile, the Public Service Association said the layoffs don't make sense, after the government recently announced the disestablishment of its Pay Equity Taskforce.
"If the government's priority is to develop a more effective public service, why gut the very agency that plays such a critical role in leading and co-ordinating our public service?" said Kerry Davies, national secretary at the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi, in a statement.
"The loss of experienced leadership roles is a bad move. These people support the rest of the public service to be more efficient and co-ordinated, who will pick up this role now?"
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According to Davies, the changes are just "more mixed messages" from the government that's cutting public service to pay for tax cuts.
"The end result of all this will be a public service unable to deliver the quality public services New Zealanders need and expect," she said.