MULTI-SKILLING AND RE-TRAINING EXERCISE IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE

In its efforts to create an effective and efficient workforce, the Government, in consultation with the interested Trade Unions, is embarking on a service-wide multi-skilling and re-training exercise. Through this initiative Government employees will be provided with professional development enabling them to acquire a range of skills and knowledge base which will lead to a more flexible workforce capable of undertaking a variety of tasks in different areas of the Public Service. The focus of this exercise is at present on the Industrial Grades which make up 25% of the 32,000-strong Public Service.

Following a comprehensive information-gathering exercise, Government employees will be provided with the opportunity for re-training which will be in consonance, both with their present skills and with the human resource requirements which the Public Service may have from time to time.

In line with this on-going initiative, a pilot project has been started aimed at unskilled and semi-skilled employees who, following selection and training, will be appointed, as vacancies arise, in the new grade of Operational Support Worker. Interested Public Service employees have already been informed of this opportunity through a Management and Personnel Office Circular.

Amongst the duties which the new Operational Support Workers will be expected to perform are facilitating the operation of office equipment, reception duties and client assistance and basic computer usage for data-entry purposes.

Other re-training and multi-skilling projects are being planned in collaboration with the Employment and Training Corporation, addressing other areas in the Public Service.