Update: 1:02PM THE Minister for Public Service, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has announced that recruitment is now in progress for 12 positions in the new Ministry of Civil Service.

A statement by the Department of Information quoted Mr Sayed-Khaiyum saying: “As announced in the 2016 Budget Address, the role of the new Ministry of Civil Service is to oversee and implement overarching guidelines for all Government Ministries. The Ministry will set standards in regards to hiring, evaluation, discipline and emoluments while still allowing Permanent Secretaries the flexibility to fulfill their Constitutional responsibilities.”

He said positions were advertised and recruitment will be finalised  in the New Year.

“This is an exciting change that is in line with the on-going Civil Service Reform as we move towards an efficient, transparent and modern Civil Service that effectively provides services to all Fijians,” he said.