The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has amended its policy for employees transitioned to the new Pay Framework, ensuring that salary increments are now granted starting from the actual date the employee becomes eligible for the promotion.
Under the “Policy on Granting Salary Increments for Civil Service Employees Transitioned to the State Pay Framework,” increments are awarded once all specified criteria for advancement are met. Previously, promotions were effective only from the date the Ministry of Finance granted approval, following the submission of the request to the Commission. However, with the newly implemented amendment, once the submission is made with the Ministry’s approval, the increment will be backdated to the specific day the employee initially became eligible for the advancement.
The CSC stated that this change addresses previous administrative delays. Employees who did not receive their increments promptly due to administrative processes will now be entitled to receive the backdated salary for the period between their eligibility date and the finalization of the process.
The initial policy regarding salary increments for civil servants under the State Pay Framework was first published in October last year. According to the policy, an increment within this framework is defined as progressing from Step 1 to Step 2, or Step 2 to Step 3, of the “Job Allowance” category.
To qualify for such an increment, an employee must have completed at least two years of service and achieved a performance appraisal score of at least 85% for two consecutive years. The policy stipulates that advancement through each step requires meeting these specific criteria. Even if an employee achieves the required 85% score, they must fulfill the minimum two-year service duration in their current position to be eligible.
The policy further requires government agencies to identify employees projected to be eligible for increments during the upcoming year when submitting their annual budget estimates. The additional expenditure required for these increments must be included in the budget. According to Civil Service regulations, in circumstances where this has not been pre-budgeted, increments can only be granted after obtaining specific written authorization from the Ministry of Finance.
The Civil Service Commission confirmed that the amended policy is now in effect and will apply to both current employees under the new Pay Framework and those who will transition to it in the future. At present, the employees primarily meeting the criteria for these increments are teachers and health service professionals.
