Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says Cabinet has formally endorsed the change in the retirement age to 60 years and optional at 55 years.
Rabuka made the announcement at a Press Conference today and said that his Cabinet has also removed all contract-based appointments for all civil servants effective from 01 January 2023 except for Permanent Secretaries.
The Prime Minister said the Government noted a chronic shortage of teachers, doctors and nurses, and it has agreed that the increase in retirement age is applicable from January of last year.
“The Public Service Commission will be working closely with all Permanent Secretaries to operationalise the amendment to the Regulations on retirement age and removal of contract-based appointments for civil servants and wage-earners.”
The Prime Minister said Government noted that there are other civil servants who had retired in 2022.
He says the Public Service Commission, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Finance will consult with Government agencies on the possibility of their re-entry into the service.
Rabuka says that following this, a holistic submission will be made to Cabinet on the practicality of extending this to the rest of the Public Service.
The necessary amendments to the Civil Service (General) Regulations 1999 will be gazetted accordingly this week.
