New public service management code by end of year

The review of the public service management code is expected to be complet by the end of year, providing those working in the civil service with clear guidelines and recommendations that leave no room for interpretation.

Comparing the voluminous code to a bible, principal permanent secretary Mario Cutajar the code will be more "user friendly", eliminating contradictory chapters and clauses.

Along with the Public Service Commission, the civil service will be updating its disciplinary code.

Over 250 permanent secretaries, director generals, directors, assistant directors and chief information officers today attended a seminar on the public service. The goal behind the annual seminars is to lay out the vision for the coming year.

Cutajar said that 2016 will be the year of consolidation for the public service, building on the work carried out last year in a bid to simplify the services offered to citizens.

After having opened three one-stop-shops last year, Cutajar announced the opening of centres in three other localities. Another development will be the finalisation of a strategy by MITA to make online services available via mobile. The first of these services will be provided next year.

Addressing the seminar, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat encouraged the officials to be more proactive, and to come up with their own suggestions.

"The flow of ideas shouldn't be one stream, from the politician to the civil service. If you have constructive criticism, an idea or a proposal, do not hold back from speaking to the politician," Muscat said.

Announced in Budget 2016, the government will seek the services of a private company that will send out people acting as 'mystery shoppers' to make use of services offered by government departments. The company will then present a report and rate the services offered.

"We should not be afraid of having our clients rating us," he said, pointing out to how a system similar to TripAdvisor would give people the opportunity to rate services in real time.

"I am for a world-class civil service," he added.