Latest news with #CivilServiceCommission
Arab Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Employees affected by Article 5 citizenship revocation to receive new contracts: CSC
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 9: The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has issued a directive to government agencies to withdraw the employment of staff whose citizenships were revoked under Article 5, related to noble deeds, with plans to offer new contracts subsequently. According to informed sources, government entities will reinstate these employees under new contracts that provide unified benefits. However, these benefits will differ from those granted to Kuwaiti nationals. The sources emphasized that renewing contracts for employees in this category will guarantee the continuation of their salary payments, ensuring no interruptions in their remuneration. This move reflects the Civil Service Commission's efforts to clarify employment status and benefits for affected personnel following the revocation of their citizenship.
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Villanueva wants online gambling ban on gov't offices, employees
Senator Joel Villanueva on Friday urged the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to ban online gambling in all government offices and among civil service personnel. 'Our government can put a stop to online gambling among the ranks of its employees through the Civil Service Commission. We call on the CSC to issue a clear-cut ban on online gambling among civil servants, particularly officials and employees of the government,' Villanueva said. According to the senator, the CSC has an existing policy prohibiting government employees in casinos. However, Villanueva said the guidelines should be amended to include online gambling platforms. 'Given the changes in the gambling landscape, the CSC should consider coming up with changes to its policy that are appropriate to our situation today with the online gambling platforms easier for workers in government to access,' explained Villanueva. 'Huwag po nating hintayin na mahulog sila sa kumunoy ng adiksyon, lalo na at napakadali na ngayong tumaya sa online sugal,' he added. (Let us not wait for them to fall victim to addiction, especially now that the online gambling platforms are readily accessible.) Several lawmakers have pushed for a ban on the industry, given worries that addiction is soaring, with more gamblers drawn to online platforms, further accelerated by advertisements on social media and e-wallet platforms. President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. earlier said he is creating a body that will formulate the government's policy on online gambling, and he is looking to include Catholic bishops in the process because of their recent pronouncements on the issue. Malacañang also said Marcos will study calls to ban online gambling. Earlier, online gaming operators licensed with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) expressed opposition over proposals for a total ban on online gambling in the country. They warned that Filipinos might shift to unregulated sites on the black market. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
New law optimizing government ops will not lead to mass layoffs —CSC
The Civil Service Commission on Thursday allayed fears that the new law allowing the optimization of the national government will lead to mass displacement of government employees. CSC Assistant Commissioner Ariel Ronquillo clarified that Republic Act No. 12231 or the Government Optimization Act is targeted to 'improve the delivery of public services' of government offices. 'Yun ang isang gusto kong linawin. During the hearing, it was clarified na 'yun pong ating Government Optimization Act — dati ang tawag dito rightsizing —binago ang title in order to disabuse the minds of some people who are apprehensive against this na kapag naisabatas ito, it will lead to massive layoffs,' Ronquillo said in a televised interview. (We want to clarify that the Government Optimization Act will not lead to that. The law was previously called rightsizing but was renamed to disabuse the minds of some people who are apprehensive of this and believe the law will lead to massive layoffs.) 'Hindi po ganun. Hindi target nito na magtanggal. Ang layunin nito ay lalo pa pagandahin ang serbisyo na binibigay ng mga kagawaran sa mga mamamayan kaya pag-aaralan ang kanilang mga structure,' he said. (That law was not made to remove personnel. The law aims study the structure in order to improve the services of government agencies.) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the law on August 4. Under the legislation, optimization is defined as the process of analyzing and designing the appropriate roles, mandates, structures, functions, sizes, systems, and processes of government agencies to ensure effective, responsive, and efficient service delivery. The law aims to minimize, if not eliminate, redundancies, overlaps, and duplications in its operations and simplify its rules and regulations, systems and processes, while protecting the welfare of civil servants and other government workers. It shall cover all agencies of the Executive Branch, including departments, bureaus, offices, commissions, boards, councils, and all other entities attached to or under their administrative supervision, and government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) not covered by Republic Act 10149 or the GOCC Governance Act of 2011. Teachers and teaching-related jobs in elementary, secondary, technical or vocational schools, state universities and colleges, and non-chartered tertiary schools are not covered by the law, nor are uniformed personnel of the Department of National Defense, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of Justice. Employees in excluded positions must meet the qualifications and be carrying out their duties, the law said. Meanwhile, Ronquillo assured civil servants that the CSC will ensure the law will not be used for indiscriminate layoffs. He also said employees who will be affected by the optimization will be granted with appropriate benefits. 'Nakabantay kami to ensure na ang batas na ito ay hindi gagamitin para sa indiscriminate layoff or termination from the service of a certain official or employee,' Ronquillo said. (The CSC will safeguard the implementation of the law to ensure it will not be used for indiscriminate layoff or termination from the service of a certain official or employee.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Civil Service Commission returns in Jackson to bring accountability to city employment
Jackson Mayor John Horhn has revived the city's long-dormant Civil Service Commission, a body tasked with ensuring fair hiring, promotion and discipline practices for city employees. What is civil service? "The Civil Service Commission safeguards an orderly, merit-driven system for city employees, providing every qualified citizen with a fair chance at public service and strengthening the quality of municipal departments," the press release states. "The Commission oversees recruiting, evaluating, and promoting employees strictly on the basis of performance and qualifications, while upholding a comprehensive Code of Rules and Regulations in line with the Civil Service Acts." Under state law — specifically, Miss. Code Ann. § 21-31-1 — a city's Civil Service Commission helps oversee personnel policies and employment-related disputes for municipal workers. The commission will meet on the second Thursday each month at the Andrew Jackson conference room in the Hood Building on 200 South President Street. All meetings are open to the public. It's unclear when the commission stopped meeting. Jackson's communications director Nic Lott said the commission stopped meeting under former Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba's administration, and he was unsure why. More members also might be added to the commission in the future. 'This is another example of our commitment to improving governance,' Horhn said in the release. 'These commissioners bring integrity, knowledge, and experience to the job.' The press release states that the commission has one current member, Onetta Starling Whitley. She works in the general counsel division for Jackson State University and "serves as the University's lead in‐house attorney," according to her biography on JSU's website. 'Our main goal is to ensure all hiring and promotions in Jackson's city government are based solely on merit and ability. We stand ready to help increase the effectiveness and morale of our entire city workforce," Whitley said in the press release. Who is on the civil service board? Additionally, Horhn has nominated Peyton Prospere and Ronald K. Moore to serve on the board. Both will need to be confirmed by the Jackson City Council, which is expected to be voted on at their next meeting on Aug. 12, according to Lott. Prospere is an attorney with local Jackson firm Watkins and Eager and has practiced public law and finance for 45 years, according to the firm's website. Prospere was chief counsel for former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove and later director of Jackson's Administration Department under Mayor Frank Melton. He also served as interim state treasurer in 2003, before current Republican Gov. Tate Reeves took over the role in 2004. 'We're committed to listening to employees and residents alike as the commission moves forward,' Prospere said in the press release. 'Our focus will be on creating lasting positive change that benefits both city workers and the people of Jackson.' Moore is the founder and serves as the senior pastor of Stronger Hope Church, which is located off Beasley Road in North Jackson. The church was established in 1993, according to its website. An Army veteran, Moore transitioned from the military to ministry and studied at various schools across the South before opening his church. 'Being nominated to serve on the Civil Service Commission is both an honor and a responsibility. The work we will do shapes a culture of excellence and fairness that every city employee and resident deserves," Moore said in the press release. Horhn's administration said reactivating the board will bring Jackson back into compliance with civil service standards and provide a check on hiring decisions. Charlie Drape is the Jackson beat reporter. You can contact him at cdrape@ This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson MS Mayor Horhn announces return of Civil Service Commission Solve the daily Crossword
Arab Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Kuwait Food Truck Owners Call it Quits in Face of Curbs
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 5: Faced with difficulties and obstacles, 30 percent of food truck owners have currently ceased operations. In separate interviews with Al-Seyassah, they listed the challenges that led to this outcome. The most prominent among them is the refusal to allow parking in vital areas such as markets, tourist zones, and investment zones. This restriction has deprived them of expected financial returns, especially since the designated areas by the relevant authorities are relatively remote and lack sufficient traffic and activity. They also requested to be allowed to serve hot drinks with light meals, as they are currently prohibited from preparing coffee with meals. The details are as follows: Hamad Al-Enezi, owner of one of the projects, said he faces several obstacles in his business, most notably the lack of sufficient space in vital areas, as they are not allowed to park their food trucks in front of cooperative societies and shopping malls. He revealed that his profits from this project do not exceed KD 800 per month. Meanwhile, Hamdan Al-Abdullah believes that mobile cart projects are on the verge of extinction for several reasons, the most important being that a large segment of citizens travel abroad for their summer vacations, coupled with the fact that Kuwait is not a tourist country. He explained that many citizens do not accept mobile carts parking in front of parks located in private residential areas. Also, some official service agencies refuse to allow young entrepreneurs to park their mobile carts in the squares in front of their buildings. Young Kuwaitis who own carts specialized in printing services also face a lot of problems. In a related context, Hamoud Al-Ali said obstacles in obtaining licenses are ongoing, and they are no longer allowed to park in vital areas that could boost sales. Most of the locations permitted by the relevant authorities are in places with little to no activity, although a young entrepreneur may pay KD 30,000 to purchase a fully equipped cart. Comply He called for allowing mobile carts to park in vital areas such as busy and tourist markets like Souk Mubarakiya. In this regard, Haitham Al-Mutairi stated that mobile vehicle owners comply with all health and environmental requirements but must be allowed to park in the most important areas, especially investment zones. He stated that although there are approximately 3,250 mobile vehicles, parking spaces are limited to only 300, most of which are unprofitable, forcing 30 percent of project owners to cease operations completely. Al-Mutairi also highlighted other issues they face, such as the ban on transferring ownership of mobile vehicles, which creates further problems, as a young person who completes his project must then apply to the Civil Service Commission to obtain a job. For his part, a mobile commercial vehicle owner, who preferred to remain anonymous, called for the removal of all obstacles facing mobile vehicle project owners, especially since their number currently exceeds 4,000 vehicles. He explained that the problems are huge, particularly because many project owners have obtained loans from the 'Fund.' Due to these obstacles, the future looks extremely difficult for some, with several owners having already frozen their activities. Locations He affirmed the importance of providing access to vital locations rather than remote ones, noting that out of approximately 340 locations, only about 40 are favorable, while the rest are difficult for conducting business. In addition, Khaled Al-Majdami, owner of a mobile cart project, said the biggest problem they face is the prohibition on parking in vital locations, despite these projects being considered small businesses. He emphasized that all parties should support the owners of these projects, especially since they chose this path and have helped reduce the burden on the government by creating jobs. He expressed hope that the relevant authorities would allow mobile vehicles to park in areas near investment zones that witness crowds of both citizens and expatriates, as well as permit them to operate in major markets without issuing violations against mobile cart owners. Meanwhile, an informed source at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry explained that the ministry grants mobile cart licenses if the required conditions are met. These conditions include that the applicant must be at least 21 years old and not a government employee, along with the necessity of committing to practice only permitted activities. The ministry is not strict with mobile cart owners but requires them to obtain licenses, especially since there are convenient options to submit applications online through the ministry's website. It also mandates that approved parking spaces must not be violated. Other requirements for selecting locations include ensuring they offer suitable environmental conditions and do not disrupt traffic. The ministry has provided about 300 parking spaces, and project owners can choose their preferred location. It requires project owners not to engage in two activities simultaneously, such as preparing meals and making coffee at the same time. The cart must be equipped with adequate lighting, and the area designated for selling must be thermally separated from the food preparation area. Also, the mobile cart must not be older than 10 years. The source stressed that the mission of the ministry's inspection teams is to protect consumer health and ensure the quality of products offered by these project owners. He went on to explain that when the ministry receives complaints about carts parking in front of homes and causing inconvenience, it is natural to take action to ensure the comfort and safety of residents. This is especially important since the requirements for approved mobile cart parking locations include access to energy, water, electricity, and sewage facilities. The source stressed that it is illogical for applicants not to obtain a license according to legal procedures, clarifying that the ministry is not responsible for the rising number of applications, as these projects are considered a type of business governed by supply and demand.
