Latest news with #civil service
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Civil servants to get rewards for earning a degree
About 30,000 members of the public services attended a gathering with the prime minister, at which several incentives were announced. (Bernama pic) PUTRAJAYA : Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced several new initiatives today to strengthen the civil service, including improvements to the service scheme of the Malaysian armed forces, financial incentives under the academic recognition awards and allocations to strengthen Intan, the national institute of public administration. He said the measures are in line with the government's commitment to improving the efficiency, professionalism, and welfare of civil servants at all levels, thereby ensuring that the national development agenda can be implemented more effectively. For the armed forces, a performance-based incentive scheme will be extended to those holding the ranks of sergeant and staff sergeant, with the qualifying period reduced from six years to four years, benefitting 3,789 personnel. Anwar said the government has allocated RM75 million to provide a one-off financial incentive to civil servants who complete higher education at their own expense during their service. The incentive amounts are set at RM1,250 for a doctorate, RM1,000 for a master's degree, RM750 for a bachelor's degree, and RM500 for a diploma or equivalent qualification. In addition, the prime minister said RM3 million has been allocated to strengthen Intan's role as a reference centre for public service excellence. Anwar's announcement was made at a gathering of civil servants today, involving about 30,000 members of the public services who were present in person as well as by virtual attendance. Cuepacs, the federation of public service unions, thanked Anwar for the new incentives, such as the relaxation of haj pilgrimage requirements for civil servants who have not yet been confirmed in their positions. Its president, Adnan Mat, also commended the government for extending the lifelong learning programme until 2026, and the provision of one-off academic recognition rewards ranging from RM500 to RM1,250 for those who have completed their studies independently, without government funding. Commenting on the prime minister's call for civil servants to embrace change or risk falling behind, Adnan said civil servants must be proactive in embracing change. 'If we don't change, we risk being left behind. The old mindset of working in comfort and complacency must be replaced with a culture of continuous transformation,' he said.
BBC News
09-08-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Working class students divided on civil service summer internship reform
Some students say they are being left out of a major civil service internship scheme after ministers announced reforms aimed at encouraging more working class people to work for the to the summer programme will now be restricted to those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, which ministers say will help make the civil service more representative of society and help the government make better News spoke to four students who want to work in the civil service after they graduate to hear what they think of the changes. 'I was put off before but now I'll definitely apply' Adam Allen, 20, is from Newark-on-Trent and studies sociology and criminology at the University of WarwickThe civil service was not something Adam was aware of until he went to university and attended some outreach considered applying to the summer internship programme - seen as a good stepping stone to a job in the civil service after university - last year but was put off by how exclusive it seemed."How was I going to stand a chance against everyone else that's had a bit more of a leg up and a bit more of an advantage than me, in terms of personal networks and knowledge?"Around 200 people are expected to be admitted to the revamped internship programme next year. Last year there were about 450 interns, including 125 from lower socio-economic backgrounds, selected from 4,200 applicants, according to government figures. Interns are paid and tasked with helping plan events, write briefings for ministers, shadow senior civil servants and carry out research for policy development. Adam tells BBC News neither of his parents went to university and were not in stable employment for much of his childhood. They tended to work in factories and says he experienced behavioural problems in school because of a difficult home life. He received free school meals but during sixth-form he began to see education as an opportunity to prove his worth. This drove him to achieving three A*s at A-level and a place at who is part of social mobility organisation The 93% Club for state school students at British universities, says changes to the internship programme have prompted him to think again about the civil service."It feels like I will now be taken seriously and no longer just someone [applying] without a real shot." 'Working class but not working class enough?' Nell Ashworth, 21, is from King's Lynn and studies social policy at the University of YorkAs the daughter of a nurse, the virtues of public service were something Nell Ashworth grew up with."I basically chose to do my degree in social policy because I want to work for the civil service," she tells us. "I've done all of this preparation for, I suppose, not very much reward."Nell is all too aware that those who perform well during the summer internship, which typically takes place between the second and third year of a university course, can be fast-tracked into a graduate job in the civil Fast Stream is the service's flagship programme for recruiting graduates who are trained for leadership and management is highly competitive and there were more than 44,000 applications last year, according to government figures, but only 986 were recommended for appointment. Of these, 211 were from lower socio-economic there were about 540,000 people working across the civil service as of March the new rules, Nell would still be allowed to apply for the Fast Stream but not the summer internship programme. This is because eligibility is decided by the jobs an applicant's parents did when they were 14. In Nell's case her mother was a nurse and her father a town service interns must be working class, government saysLabour must tell its working class story, says ministerThe criteria now being used for the internships are set out by the Social Mobility Commission, an independent body which advises the categorise jobs into five groups; the lowest two of which are considered working class and include occupations such as mechanic, electrician, shop assistant, labourer, cleaner and jobs like clerical worker, roofer and taxi driver are considered above these working glass groups, as are public sector jobs like nurses and teachers."Mostly, I felt deflated," Nell says of her reaction to seeing the changes, having planned to apply for next year's programme. "If I'd have known then I could have changed my plans and applied for this summer's internship instead."State school-educated Nell, whose parents were the first in their families to go to university, says she understands why the government is trying to encourage more people with working class backgrounds into the civil she considers herself to be one of them and fears others like her will also be dissuaded from working in the public sector as they are not considered working class enough."There's me in the middle, not rich or poor, so where do I go? And then that puts me off working in the civil service because now I have no idea who's looking out for me." 'It will make the civil service more representative' Hannah Begum, 20, is from Leeds and studies politics and international relations at the London School of Economics (LSE)Improving society is central to what Hannah Begum would like to do for a grew up in Yorkshire where her father was a self-employed handyman and her mother a part-time community says many of her fellow students at LSE have wealthy international backgrounds or grew up in the south-east of England."A lot of them don't really know what it means to live in Leeds or live up north and how different it can be."Hannah thinks there are far more opportunities for high-quality work experience when you are based in London - never mind the savings on accommodation and travel costs - and that reforms to civil service internships will open doors for people like her."Most people in this country are not in high socio-economic classes. Most people in this country are affected by austerity, affected by the cost of living crisis, and we need people in government that are going reflect those exact people," she says."We're not going to get those people in government if we don't create the stepping stones in order for them to enter."Hannah does understand why the reforms to internships are controversial for some, but she urges them to see things from her perspective."It needs to be taken into account that not everyone has the same privileges in terms of being able to get a job in government… [the reforms] are not going to mean less intelligent people getting in, it just means a bit more of an equal chance." 'It feels like the country I love doesn't want me' Peter Murphy, 21, is from London and studies history at the University of CambridgeWorking in the civil service means more to Peter Murphy than a sensible career choice - to his mind it's a chance to patriotically serve his father, who immigrated from Ireland, was the first in his family to go to university and Peter's grandfather was a shop-fitter from was in the Irish capital visiting relatives when he heard of the changes to the internship programme. "I got quite angry at that moment because it feels like the rug has been pulled [from under me]."The state school-educated north Londoner tells us: "It just feels that the country that I care about - that I love and feel part of just as much as anyone else - doesn't want me anymore."He says his desire to work in the civil service has only strengthened since starting his degree at Cambridge, where he feels too many students are focused on lucrative careers with little consideration for wider issues."I'm worried a lot of bright people are becoming very disconnected from civil society and we're fracturing into a nation where people are content to be rich and live in their little ivory towers," he says."[The reforms] are unfair and it's it goes against what it means be British… It just smacks to me as socially destructive, that people feel that they're not being taken on their merits."
Forbes
01-08-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Why Do Workers Blame Themselves When There's No Work?
Employment in the US is a very uneven metric of economic stability. Some of the fastest growth is occurring in large metropolitan areas, where industries can thrive and benefit from local talent, infrastructure, and resources. Conversely, rural areas have been seeing a brain drain for some time, with few sources of employment for the residents who do remain. Manufacturing has also been shrinking consistently for several decades, despite successive politicians' promises to revive the industry. And certainly, recent mass layoffs in the civil service mean that even government jobs that once offered the promise of long-term security are far less guaranteed than they once were. These changes present a spotty landscape for workers. They are indicative of a new era in which employment is generally very precarious, uncertain, and temporary. Yet many of these changes are also the result of big-picture factors—what sociologists refer to as structural dynamics—that are beyond individual control. Increased competition and globalization, for instance, contributed to a decline in the US manufacturing industry that has resulted in a steep decline in jobs over the past four decades. Other estimates predict that rising automation could displace over 70 million workers by 2030. Yet as anyone who's ever watched Season 2 of The Wire could tell you, these changes are not the fault of individual workers in these industries. Why then are workers so prone to blaming themselves for their own employment woes? Who Takes The Blame? The theme of workers holding themselves responsible for larger macroeconomic and sociological forces is a recurring one. Sociologist Jennifer Silva writes about the bleak economic landscape for those entering adulthood. Silva finds that these young people no longer mark 'growing up' by traditional measures such as finding work or owning a home. Skyrocketing home prices, staggering debt, and a lack of consistent, stable, 'good jobs' make doing that impossible. Instead, they focus on the struggles they have, with any luck, been able to overcome—addiction, betrayal, poverty. It's crucial to note that the lack of gainful employment looms large and is a key driver of the uncertainty these young adults face. But equally important is the fact that these young workers aren't responsible for the jobs leaving their rural communities, the lack of training, or the missing infrastructure that made bigger cities riper for investment. Nonetheless, they focus on themselves rather than the bigger, structural dynamics that make employment—or the lack thereof—such a central missing piece. Though rising unemployment is happening in many places, this individualized response to it may be a particularly American problem. In a study comparing workers in the United States and Israel, sociologist Ofer Sharone found that those in the latter country were far less likely to attribute unemployment to their own perceived shortcomings and flaws. These workers sought to highlight the ways their resumes and experiences fit the jobs for which they were applying. They highlighted the ways they were specifically qualified for the jobs they sought. Those in the US, by contrast, attempted to highlight the individual personalities behind the resumes and cover letters, and to show how they, as unique individuals, were the right fit for the jobs for which they were applying. Both are understandable strategies. But for Americans, this focus on individualism meant that when job searches failed, applicants took this as a direct reflection of their own self-worth. When they were unable to land jobs, particularly for a prolonged period of time, they did not conceptualize this as a problem of industries on the decline, or of increased automation, or the consequences of globalization. They blamed themselves. When Individualism Goes Too Far Why do these workers see unemployment as a personal rather than a structural problem? Much of this is likely attributable to US culture. Themes of individualism, meritocracy, and autonomy are deeply embedded in the American ethos in ways that may make it very difficult for workers to see themselves as subject to larger structural dynamics. This American ethic can perhaps be a motivating factor in some cases—it may spur innovation, entrepreneurship, and in the immortal words of Jay Z, may push workers to 'go farther, go further, go harder.' But when it comes to employment, it could also have significant adverse consequences for workers if they blame themselves for outcomes well beyond their control.
Times
30-07-2025
- Business
- Times
Civil service numbers at 20-year high despite pledge to cut costs
The civil service is becoming increasingly top-heavy as thousands of staff are hired despite a pledge to cut costs. There were 549,660 civil servants at the end of March. This is up almost 7,000 on the same time last year, putting the size of Whitehall at a 20-year high. The civil service has now grown by a third since Brexit and pay rose 5 per cent last year. Critics say staff are 'over-promoted' as a way of boosting salaries. The latest figures show 75 per cent of staff are in management roles and above, compared with 60 per cent a decade ago. Civil service middle management, known as grades 6 and 7, grew 5 per cent last year after doubling over the previous decade. Growth in the top ranks of Whitehall also accelerated, up 3.2 per cent last year. 'It is a continuation of the grade inflation story', said Alex Thomas, programme director at the Institute for Government, an independent think tank. 'Every grade except [the lowest] administrative grade grew last year.' While pay at each rank of the service has fallen significantly in real terms, the overall pay bill is now higher than it was in 2010 as staff become more senior. After coalition-era cuts, the civil service fell to a low of 418,340 in 2016 before beginning to rise again as government took on more responsibility as a result of Brexit. The Conservatives made a series of pledges to cut the civil service after the Covid pandemic but it has continued to grow every year. Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, has promised to cut costs by 15 per cent, although she has not set a target on staff numbers. Thomas said it was too soon to know if that pledge was working, but said a fall in the number of staff moving between departments suggested the civil service was 'gumming up'. 'Less churn is a good thing but it's not clear whether people are staying in their jobs to become more expert — more likely it's a response to recruitment freezes,' he said. The figures do show, however, that the civil service is becoming more diverse. Women now make up 49 per cent of the senior civil service. A record 18 per cent of civil servants are from ethnic minorities, up from 11 per cent a decade ago, while the proportion of disabled staff has doubled to 18 per cent. Alex Burghart, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, said the rise in numbers was 'the direct result of Labour's failure to act. We set out plans to reduce the size of the civil service to pre-pandemic levels, plans which would have saved £1 billion a year, but Labour scrapped these after taking office and since then have only worsened the problem with their continual surrender to the unions, and their creation of 41 new quangos.' A government spokesman said: 'These increases are driven by operational frontline roles. We have set out plans to reduce back office costs by 15 per cent over the next five years, delivering savings of over £2 billion a year by 2030 and targeting spending on frontline services. 'We have already announced a new cross-government fund for exit schemes to reduce staffing numbers over the next two years, as well as introducing measures to make it quicker and easier to remove poor performers from post.'
Independent Singapore
22-07-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
'Diploma in hand, doors still shut; why the job market feels rigged for the degree-holding elite'
SINGAPORE: In a noiseless corner of Reddit, one Redditor in his mid-20s shared an honest update of his current professional journey. Notwithstanding his diploma in media, he hasn't secured a full-time job in the field. In its place, he quietly built up a compact history in the food and beverage business and even had managerial roles. Lately, he thought of chasing a new dream, and that is to finally make use of that media diploma and step into the corporate world. However, the truth was grim. 'It has been extremely hard trying to even get an interview,' he wrote, adding that most media positions demand a university degree. He was working towards one part-time job, but the process was sluggish and ambiguous. With a combined tone of hope and exhaustion, he asked other diploma holders in corporate jobs, 'How are you all doing?' The echo of a shared struggle The replies came in gradually, and many boomed the same disappointment. One commenter, equipped only with a diploma, acknowledged the arduous battle: 'It's extremely hard trying to even get an interview.' Another commenter added that without a degree, choices shrink, particularly in bigger companies. 'You'll likely have to start with the civil service or join an SME (small to medium enterprise). They're more open to diploma holders, and you can work your way up.' But even that route came with boundaries. 'Not having a degree means companies will likely cite that as a reason not to promote you much or pay you on par with degree holders.' Yes, a certificate could open some doors, but many continue to stay shut unless one has a degree—or, as some said, a completely different strategy. Creative detours and real-life workarounds However, not everyone thought the lack or absence of a degree was a roadblock. One commenter gave a calculated recommendation based on personal experience: 'Try landing an admin assistant contract role in an MNC first. What you lack in relevancy can be compensated by company reputation.' The idea is to get one foot in the door, even if the role isn't associated with your area of expertise, and then do some 'manoeuvring' internally. Established or well-reputed businesses written on your resume can act as a launching pad later on. Others cited skills-based occupations that reward experience and ambition more than paper qualifications. A late-twenties designer shared a predominantly inspiring story: 'I only have a diploma. GPA 2.1, but I work in design, and I earn more than some of my degree-holding peers. Why? Because I invested in my soft skills, built a network, said yes to good opportunities, and no to bad ones.' Sales, development, engineering, and design all came up as arenas where concrete abilities can overshadow academic labels. The common thread in these responses? Persistence, adaptability, and a long-game outlook. Not easy, but not impossible So, how are diploma holders managing in the corporate world? Many are still fighting to be 'seen.' To someone lacking a degree, the corporate pecking order can appear loftier, the steps further apart. But whether it's shifting into an admin position to build reliability and trustworthiness, gambling on a skills-based professional route, or investing in a part-time degree to penetrate and break through the paper ceiling, there's no single path, no prescribed direction. Just a shared belief, for as one commenter said, 'It's harder for us, but not impossible. You just have to do more.' See also Value of pursuing your dreams
