PUBLIC SERVICES COMMISSION

As the government’s leading agency to ensure free, fair and transparent decisions are made to public servants under review of their personnel matters; merit-based appointment of departmental heads and heads of state agencies without fear or favour, the Public Services Commission Anti-Corruption and Integrity Strategy 2022-2025 focuses on eight (8) Key Priority Areas to address and promote good governance through the Public Service Code of Business Ethics and Conduct. They are; 1. Set up an Anti-Corruption Desk in PSC to manage corruption complaints 2. Enforce the Public Service General Orders and the Public Service Code of Business Ethics and Conduct. 3. Improve compliance in mandatory functions and requirements of the Public Services Commission. 4. Promote and strengthen honest leadership. 5. Ensure that there is compliance and accountability of the Financial Management System. 6. Strengthen accountability and oversight. 7. Strengthen public awareness and education on PSC’s core function. 8. Strengthen coordination and partnership with our clients and stakeholders For more information, contact us on Facebook, LinkedIn, or email us at enquiries@psc.gov.pg

POWERS OF THE COMMISSION Under Section 12 (1) of the Public Services (Management) Act 1995 (as amended), Public Service Commission has the authority to: 1. Access premises: Enter premises occupied or used by any government department, State Service (excluding the Defence Force), Provincial Government, or other government services. 2. Summon individuals: Summon individuals whose testimony is relevant to any subject, inspection, inquiry, review, or investigation conducted by the Commission. 3. Take evidence: Oath or affirmation and administer oaths and affirmations as necessary. 4. Require documents: Require any person to produce documents within their possession or control. We perform duties to the highest principals of honesty, fairness, accountability, and transparency. For more information, please contact us via our Facebook and LinkedIn pages, or email us at enquiries@psc.gov.pg

ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES COMMISSION • PSC conduct reviews to ensure decisions made are fair and reasonable and are in compliance with the Public Service (Management) Act 1995 (as amended), Public Service General Orders and Terms & Conditions of Employment. • Reviews are conducted to promote the highest ethical standard in the National Public Service. • As a permanent public servant if you are aggrieved by a decision, you can seek a review of a decision only after ALL internal administrative processes are complete. • Recommendation of appointment of Departmental Heads, Provincial Administrators, Chief Executive Officers of Regulatory Statutory Authorities (RSA) and Non-Ex Officio Board Members are on merit and in compliance with the Public Services (Management) (Minimum Persons Specification and Competency Requirements for Selection and Appointment of Departmental Heads and Provincial Administrators) Regulation 5 and 6 of 2023 and the Merit-Based Appointment Process. • PSC conducts investigations into serious allegations made against Departmental Heads, Provincial Administrators and Chief Executive Officers of RSAs to ensure there is transparency, accountability and good governance and most importantly public confidence. PSC through the role it performs ensures that we are impartial in our Review Process, Merit-Based Appointment Proceedings, Investigations, and Legal representation is in accordance with the rule of law. All this is done to ensure an efficient and effective service delivery machinery in the National Public Service. Picture: PSC Staff & Commission Members For more information, contact us on our Facebook Page, LinkedIn Profile, or via email at enquiries@psc.gov.pg

A small but significant gathering at our PSC office to commemorate PNG's 49th years of Independence Anniversary 💛❤🖤 We wish our staff, clients, and stakeholders a happy and safe celebration 🥳❤💛🖤 #PSC #49Independence #Celebration

📣📣 🥳Cheers to 49 years of Papua New Guinea's Independence 🥳🖤❤️💛 We wish our fellow country men and women, our staff, our clients and stakeholders a Happy Independence and a safe celebration for all 🖤❤️💛🤩

General Order 9.32 – 9.33: Discipline of National Executive Council (NEC) and Ministerial Appointees Under General Order 9.32 – 9.33, when a Senior Officer appointed by the National Executive Council (NEC) or a Minister faces disciplinary action, the Departmental Head must submit a report to the Minister with recommendations regarding the officer’s future employment. If termination of the Senior Officer is proposed, the Minister—after obtaining a legal opinion and reviewing the case with the Secretary of the Department of Personnel Management—will advise the officer to: • Present their recommendation to the NEC for NEC appointees, or • Take appropriate disciplinary action for Ministerial appointees, based on advice from the Departmental Head. The charged officer is required to respond in writing within seven (7) working days from the date of receiving the charge by either: • Admitting to the charge and requesting leniency, or • Denying the charge and presenting a defence. Failure to respond within this time frame may result in the officer being deemed guilty, and the Departmental Head will make a decision accordingly. Additionally, the PSC can review cases involving suspensions and revocations by NEC and Ministerial appointees under Sections 31 and 60 of the Public Services (Management) Act 1995. PSC’s Mission is ‘to administer an effective and efficient personnel and organizational review, and to uphold the merit-based appointments, and suspension and revocation processes. For more information, contact us on Facebook, LinkedIn, or via email at enquiries@psc.gov.pg #KnowYourRights #KnowYourGeneralOrders #GO9

Public Service General Order No. 9: Contracts for Senior Officers in Management Positions Sections 9.1 - 9.6 This General Order applies to all senior officers nominated by the National Executive Council (NEC) for senior management positions under contract employment, as specified in Sections 40 to 42 of the Public Services (Management) Act 1995. According to the Act, the Secretary of the Department of Personnel Management is responsible for interpreting the terms and conditions of these contracts. There are three categories of senior officer appointees under this General Order: 1. Officers appointed by the Head of State, acting on the advice of the NEC. 2. Officers appointed by Ministers under their respective statutory provisions. 3. Officers appointed under the provisions of the Public Services (Management) Act 1995 and either General Order 1 or General Order 3, based on the advice of the Chairperson of a duly appointed Selection Committee. Sections 9.28 - 9.31 Each contract includes a disciplinary procedure that outlines acceptable work performance and the grounds for termination. In cases involving a serious offence or a breach of contract that could lead to termination for cause, the senior officer will be formally charged and suspended from duty by their Departmental Head. The officer will also be given an opportunity to respond to the charges within 10 days before a final decision is made. Additionally, it is important to note that if a senior officer's contract expires, General Order 9 will no longer apply. Instead, General Order 15, which governs non-contract officers, will be applied. If a disciplinary decision is made that you believe infringes on your contractual rights, you may apply for a review with the Public Services Commission (PSC) after exhausting all internal avenues within your department. The PSC remains committed to impartiality in its review process, merit-based appointment proceedings, investigations, and legal representation, in accordance with the rule of law. For more information, please contact us via our Facebook and LinkedIn pages, or email us at enquiries@psc.gov.pg #KnowYourRights #KnowYourGO #GO9

📢📢 #PSC #AntiCorruption #ComplaintsDesk

Who Should and Should Not Apply for a Review of a Personnel Matter If you are a permanent public servant and are dissatisfied with a decision made by your departmental or Agency Head, you may seek a review of that decision with the Public Services Commission (PSC). However, this can only be done after all internal administrative processes have been exhausted. The PSC conducts reviews to ensure that decisions are fair, reasonable, and comply with the Public Services (Management) Act 1995 (as amended), Public Service General Order, and the Terms and Conditions of Employment. The PSC Review Process Does Not Apply To: 1. Probationary Officers 2. Casual Employees 3. Short-Term Contract Officers 4. Statutory Authorities whose Acts prevent PSC to conduct reviews; and 5. Members of the Disciplined Forces, including: - Police - Defence Force Personnel - Correctional Service Officers. It is important to note that Civilian Staff working in the Department or Headquarters of these Disciplined Forces are ELIGIBLE to apply for a review with the PSC. The Review Process is designed to uphold the highest ethical standards within the National Public Service. For more information, please contact us via our Facebook and LinkedIn pages, or email us at enquiries@psc.gov.pg. Picture: National Review Administrative Assistant Miss Leilah Kodawara doing transcribing after an oral hearing in the Commission. #PSC #ReviewProcess

Public Service General Order No. 20.75 – 20.79: Consensual Relationships between Officers Public servants, regardless of marital status, are prohibited from engaging in any consensual relationships with colleagues during government working hours or on government premises at any time. Such conduct undermines the professional working relationship and may cause offense to other officers or members of the public. Engaging in such behavior constitutes a serious disciplinary offense under General Order 15 or the relevant disciplinary procedures outlined in an employment contract. In the event of an extra-marital relationship between officers within the same organization that takes place outside the workplace, and if court orders are issued by a partner or spouse of those involved, the Departmental Head may take steps to separate the officers from further work-related interactions. Furthermore, if the extra-marital relationship disrupts the workplace or affects the efficiency of the organization, the Departmental Head will issue directives to the officers involved to cease causing further disruption. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action. For more information, please contact us via our Facebook and LinkedIn pages or email us at enquiries@psc.gov.pg. Caption: (Second from left, sitted) PSC Commissioner National, Ms. Judith Stenis, Director National Review Mr Joshua Ngawi, and staff of the National Review Division. #GO20 #KnowYourRights #KnowYourGO