Malawi: Civil service to be reorganised
President Peter Mutharika's proposed changes include reducing the number of ministerial portfolios, including deputy ministers, to 20 and reforming budgetary allocation for maintaining state residences.
He said he hopes to promote "professionalism, integrity, technical competence and efficiency," the Nyasa Times reported.
He says he hopes the new civil service will be non-partisan and corruption free, which will be achieved "through full compliance with existing public financial management rules, regulations and practices".
Nepal: Minister vows crackdown on the number of civil servants living abroad
Civil servants living permanently abroad in countries like the USA and Canada on diversity visas and permanent resident cards could face legal consequences if a new bill comes into force, reported Republica.
Lalbabu Pandit, minister for general administration, said he expects parliament to pass the Civil Service Act (fourth amendment bill) in October and he will seek to apply the law to culpable employees within three days.
Pandit said he believes there are around 400 Nepalese civil servants living outside of the country.
India: Civil service infighting causes trouble for government
Bickering among civil servants in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is causing problems for the United Democratic Front government, reported Gulf News.
The feuding began discreetly after allegations of harrasment were made among senior civil servants but has now become public, leading opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan to say it is evidence of a "breakdown" in the administration. The state cabinet said the factional bickering can cannot be tolerated.
USA: New Jersey legislature halts changes to civil servants' promotions
The state's legislature passed a resolution aiming to kill off changes to the way thousands of state workers are promoted, reported NJ.com.
Governor Chris Christie's proposed changes involved grouping together civil service posts into "bands", making it easier for employees to be promoted to jobs within the same band without the need for further exams. But the resolution says the rule changes violate the state's constitution.
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