The Public Service Commission (PSC), this Monday, launched a nationwide six-week pension awareness campaign to enhance public servants’ understanding of pension administration, reduce processing delays and improve service delivery across Government ministries, departments and agencies.
In a statement, PSC said the outreach programme was prompted by persistent knowledge gaps among civil servants.
“The Public Service Commission has noted significant information and knowledge gaps among civil servants around pension benefits, required documents and application procedures.
“This has resulted in Pensions, Payroll and Human Resources departments across various ministries being inundated with incomplete and inaccurate documents, causing delays in salary and pension processing, leading to stakeholder frustration and complaints,” the PSC said.
The Commission said the nationwide exercise seeks to build the capacity of personnel responsible for human resources, pensions and payroll administration, while strengthening efficiency across Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
“The nation-wide six-week outreach programme from 13 July to 22 August, 202, takes off in various districts and provinces to train and capacitate personnel in Human Resources, pensions, payroll, school inspectors and other key staff in Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies in order to address this lack of knowledge and improve efficiency and effectiveness in Pensions and Human Resources Management,” the PSC said.
According to the Commission, the outreach programme will also provide an opportunity to educate Government employees on key policy changes affecting the public service.
“The outreach programme also aims to educate personnel on the new Statutory Instrument 197 of 2024, which extends the retirement age to 70 years, while correcting misinformation surrounding the new provisions.
“Participants would also receive training and updates on the electronic payslip system and other ongoing Government initiatives designed to improve service delivery and the welfare of public servants,” the commission added.
In addition, the PSC said the programme would raise awareness of the e-Payslip platform and several other developments and initiatives introduced by Government for the benefit of its workforce.
“Enhancing the knowledge and competencies of personnel handling pensions and human resources is expected to reduce administrative errors, speed up the processing of salaries and pension claims, and improve the quality of services offered to public servants across the country,” PSC noted.
The official opening of the outreach programme is expected to bring together human resources practitioners, pensions and payroll officers, school inspectors and other key personnel drawn from Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Mashonaland West Province before similar engagements are rolled out nationwide.
