With the nation still feeling the economic impacts from Covid-19, the government has put a temporary halt to the recruitment of new civil servants and to all salary raises for civil servants in 2022.
“In order for the government to save money in its budget for the continuation of healthcare programmes and social support interventions during the Covid-19 pandemic, [the prime minister] has decided in principle not to allow the recruitment of new civil servants to replace retirees with the exceptions of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health,” said the letter from the Ministry of Economy and Finance addressed to the Ministry of Civil Service on December 18.
Ministry of Economy and Finance spokesmen Meas Sok Sensan and Kim Sopheak could not be reached for comment on December 19.
Ministry of Civil Service spokesman Youk Bunna told The Post on December 19 that the ministry has complied with the government’s decision adding that in 2021, retired civil servants numbered between 3,000 and 4,000.
When asked if the lack of recruitment in 2022 will lead to a shortage of officials to work in government ministries and institutions, Bunna said that although the government put a halt to the recruitment of new civil servants in 2022, it is still allowing the recruitment of civil servants in 2021 to raise staff numbers to meet their future needs.
Yang Kim Eng, president of the People’s Centre for Development and Peace, told The Post on December 19 that it was good that the government was using its budget to solve social issues next year, especially those caused by Covid-19, because it affected the occupations and businesses of many people.
He added that the government should pay special attention to small businesses and entrepreneurs who were living hand to mouth and prioritize women whose livelihoods sustained their families as they were facing difficulties.
“Otherwise, they will be at-risk and more of them might end up as migrants, affecting their children and grandchildren, affecting their education, affecting security, with cross-border risks and so on. This daily income is very important because they need it to live and otherwise they will end up with debt that forces them to sell their houses and land so that they fall even deeper into poverty,” he said.
