Civil service commission
A civil service commission (also known as a Public Service Commission) is a government agency or public body that is established by the constitution, or by the legislature, to regulate the employment and working conditions of civil servants, oversee hiring and promotions, and promote the values of the public service. Its role is roughly analogous to that of the human resources department in corporations. Civil service commissions are often independent from elected politicians, maintaining the separation of the permanent, professional civil service from government ministers.
In Fiji for example, the PSC reviews government statutory powers to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in meeting public sector management objectives. It also acts as the human relations department, or central personnel authority, for the citizens' interactions with the government.
The origin of the public service commission in many jurisdictions was the White Paper Colonial 197 issued in 1950, which set out measures which were proposed to improve the quality and efficiency of the Colonial Service of the British administration. The setting up of public service commissions was proposed in its paragraph 21(xi) which mentioned that:[1]
Public Service Commissions should be established in the Colonies. Subject to the general overriding powers of the Secretary of State, the selection and appointment of candidates in the Colonies to posts in the local service will lie with the Governor of the Colony. It is desirable that the Governor should be advised in these matters by a Public Service Commission appointed by him and so composed as to command the confidence of the Service and the public;
and that:
such Commissions should be established in the Colonies to advise the Governor on the selection and appointment of candidates to posts in the local service, and should be so composed as to command the confidence of the Service and the public.
National public service commissions
Afghanistan: Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission
Australian Public Service Commission[2]
Bangladesh Public Service Commission[3]
Bhutan: Royal Civil Service Commission
Brunei Public Service Commission[4]
Public Service Commission of Canada[5]
Taiwan: Examination Yuan of the Republic of China[6]
Fiji Public Service Commission[7]
Hong Kong Public Service Commission[8]
India: Union Public Service Commission
Indonesia: National Civil Service Agency
Ireland: Office of the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners abolished 2004; succeeded by:
Israel: State Service Commission
Kenya Public Service Commission[9]
Malaysia: Public Service Commission[10]
Mauritius Public Service Commission[11]
Myanmar: Union Civil Service Board[12]
Nepal: Public Service Commission
Nigeria:
Pakistan: Federal Public Service Commission
Philippines: Civil Service Commission[13]
Samoa Public Service Commission[14]
Sri Lanka Public Service Commission[15]
Somaliland Civil Service Commission[16]
South Africa Public Service Commission[17]
Singapore: Public Service Commission
United Kingdom: Civil Service Commission[18]
United States:
- United States Civil Service Commission (defunct)
- Office of Personnel Management (current)
- Merit Systems Protection Board (current)
Zimbabwe Public Service Commission
See also
- Category:National civil service commissions – articles for national civil service commissions
- Public utilities commission (some government utilities regulation agencies are called public service commissions)
References
- ^ http://www.psc.gov.hk/english/ann_rep/files/10rep.pdf Archived 2022-01-21 at the Wayback Machine [bare URL PDF]
- ^ Australian Public Service Commission Official website
- ^ Bangladesh Public Service Commission Official website
- ^ Brunei Public Service Commission Official website
- ^ Public Service Commission of Canada Official website
- ^ Official website
- ^ Fiji Public Service Commission Official website
- ^ Hong Kong Public Service Commission Official website
- ^ Kenya Public Service Commission Official website
- ^ Malaysia Public Service Commission Official website
- ^ Mauritius Public Service Commission Official website
- ^ "Home". ucsb.gov.mm.
- ^ Civil Service Commission of the Philippines Official website
- ^ Samoa Public Service Commission Official website
- ^ Sri Lanka Public Service Commission Official website
- ^ Somaliland Civil Service Commission Official website
- ^ South Africa Public Service Commission Official website
- ^ United Kingdom Civil Service Commission Official website