Grievances Unit timeframe extended by 11 days

The timeframe whereby public officers and employees can submit complaints to the Grievances Unit on ground they were the victim of an injustice has been extended until Friday 21st March, the Office of the Prime Minister said.

Acting as a sort of ombudsman’s office, the Grievances Unit accepts requests and complaints from public employees who claim they were victim to injustice inside the civil service over the past seven years.

The original closing date has been set to last Monday but after receiving numerous complaints, the timeframe for officials to submit their complaints has now been extended until 21st March.

Every unit is composed of a board from each ministry or group of ministries. After considering the applications, the Grievances Unit is tasked with issuing recommendations on justified requests in a bid to address any shortcoming.

The Unit considers claims of alleged injustices that occurred over the past seven years and those which despite the fact that they occurred before the seven years, their negative consequences affected the complaint during the seven years timeframe.

Every request has to be made in writing, specifying the precise allegation and with accompanying documentation. The requests will be presented to the ministry's grievances unit through the ministry's permanent secretary's office.

The requests will give the units authorisation to access any documentation concerning the applicant.

The unit will not consider any cases that are currently undergoing a court hearing, unless new information materialises and warranting a new evaluation.

Complaints that have already been dealt by the National Ombudsman can be examined by the grievances unit if the Ombudsman declares that his office's recommendations were not implemented.