More in the family purse—Mr Palmer

Press, 25 February 1987, Page 1

More in the family purse—Mr Palmer

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington State service staffing decisions intended to ameliorate concern about future jobs in the Stateowned enterprises were announced by the Government yesterday. These State-owned enterprises were an integral part of the Government’s economic policies, said the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Palmer. Details of future staffing and housing were announced by Mr Palmer, the Minister of State Services, Mr Rodger, and the Minister of Housing, Mr

Goff. A new procedure had been introduced by the State Services Commission for Public Service departments advertising vacancies, he said. Positions would now be advertised only when an appointment could not be made from the pool of surplus staff.

Mr Palmer said that to free-up as many positions as possible, an enhanced early retirement option was now available to all employees who qualified and were replaced by a surplus staff member. He justified the upheaval from introducing

the new State-owned enterprises as putting more money in the family purse. “If we can achieve a 1 per cent increase in the return on assets employed by these enterprises, the national income will rise $5OO million a year — equal to $lO a week for every household,” Mr Palmer said. Expanded advisory and support services were now set up throughout New Zealand for staff interested in seeking an appointment out of the pool of surplus staff, said Mr Palmer. Staff made surplus were urged to use the toll-free line set up to help them find another job in the Public Service — 733-712 or 710-168. Staff who did find another appointment in the Public Service would be eligible for the State servant on transfer loan scheme and the pool house scheme. The State Services Commission would extend its advisory and assistance network at the regional level to help those affected, Mr Palmer said. The commission had also been authorised to enter into negotiations with the P.S.A.' on the redundancy compensation to be made available at the end of the six-month period.