Liberia’s Civil Service Agency lifts moratorium on new employment and employee transfer in government.
By: Kruah Thompson
Monrovia, Liberia, October 4, 2024 –The Civil Service Agency (CSA) announces the immediate lifting of the ban on new employment and employee transfers between and within government entities.
CSA Director General Josiah Joekai disclosed this during a recent press briefing at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT) in Monrovia.
On Friday, February 16, 2024, the Civil Service Agency, under the direction of Mr. Alfred Drosaye, then Officer-in-Charge, collaborated with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to temporarily freeze employee transfers between and within government institutions. This measure aimed to maintain order in staff movements, as many entities were still managed by the officers in charge.
However, in April 2024, during a subsequent address on the matter, the CSA director announced the lifting of part of the freeze on direct replacements but indicated that the freeze on new hires and transfers would remain in place until the General Auditing Commission (GAC) conducted a Payroll Compliance Audit.
He reminded heads of spending entities of the 2012 Civil Service Standing Orders, particularly Chapters 3 and 4, which require that all human resource movements receive the Director-General’s approval before implementation. This includes intra- and inter-agency transfers, promotions or demotions, direct replacements, and changes to employee payroll account details.
He urged that all actions be processed using the appropriate Personnel Action Notices (PAN) as stipulated in Section 35 of the Civil Service Revised Human Resource Policy Manual of September 2014.
However, banning new hires and employee transfers in government can create various challenges that lead to low governance output. Such challenges may include talent shortages and low morale among staff, resulting in uneven workloads and reduced innovation, which can hinder employees’ career growth. This situation may also prompt individuals to seek better opportunities elsewhere, ultimately harming the quality of public services.
Many states and local governments in the United States have implemented hiring freezes during economic downturns or budget crises, particularly during the 2008 financial crisis. In the United Kingdom, post-2010 austerity measures led to significant cuts in public sector staffing and hiring restrictions, which severely impacted the National Health Service (NHS).
Canada has also faced hiring restrictions due to budget cuts at both provincial and federal levels, especially during the late 2010s. Similarly, Australia experienced temporary hiring freezes during budgetary constraints, notably around 2015-2016. In India, government hiring freezes have been prevalent during economic reforms and budget constraints since the early 2010s. These measures across countries have resulted in increased workloads, lower morale, and decreased service quality, ultimately affecting citizens’ trust in government effectiveness.
This may be some of the reasons why certain government ministries and agencies have been ineffective here over time.
However, in a recent statement, CSA director Josiah Joekai announced lifting the freeze, citing Section 3.4.9 of the Standing Orders for the Civil Service.
“In accordance with Section 3.4.9 of the Standing Orders for the Civil Service, the freeze on transfers is hereby lifted,” Joekai stated.
He emphasized the need for all government Human Resources Directors to comply with this directive.
However, on Wednesday, October 2, 2023, a circular memorandum outlining the transfer procedures was issued to all HR Directors to facilitate the process.
According to him, the move aims to enhance workforce mobility and optimize staffing across various government agencies. Editing by Jonathan Browne
