By removing more than 2,000 civil servants from the payroll, the Surinamese government could save an estimated SRD 30 million per month in salary costs. On an annual basis, this could theoretically amount to approximately SRD 360 million. The amount is based on a calculation example of an average net salary of SRD 15,000 per civil servant and is not an officially established savings amount.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has recently removed more than 2,000 public servants from government service. In addition, cases in which civil servants received double salaries have been addressed. The measures are part of the Public Sector Reform programme (PSR), through which the government aims to clean up the personnel administration and payroll.
Director Nasier Eskak of Home Affairs said in an interview with Sun Web TV that the removal of more than 2,000 public servants is not solely about reducing the size of the government apparatus. According to him, several cases involved violations of the Personnel Act.
These include civil servants who have been unlawfully absent for long periods or who have failed to report to work for an extended period.
According to Eskak, a fixed procedure is followed before dismissal is imposed. The public servant concerned is first given the opportunity to present a defence. If that defence is found to be insufficient, a suspension may follow. If no improvement occurs thereafter, dismissal may ultimately be imposed.
Double salary payments halted
During the clean-up of the government administration, cases were also discovered in which public servants received double salaries, according to the director. These double payments have since been halted.
According to Eskak, the PSR programme should not only prevent the government from wrongly paying salaries, but also provide clarity on whether the legal status of public servants has been correctly recorded in the administration.
Savings could rise to hundreds of millions
The financial consequences of removing more than 2,000 people could be significant. Eskak used an average net remuneration of SRD 15,000 per public servant as a calculation example.
For 2,000 civil servants, this amounts to approximately SRD 30 million per month and around SRD 360 million per year. The actual amount may differ, as the salaries of public servants vary considerably.
Any allowances, deductions and other employment conditions may also affect the eventual savings.
According to Eskak, the operation must ultimately result in a cleaner and more easily verifiable government payroll, as well as better compliance with the Personnel Act. Public servants who do not comply with the applicable rules cannot remain on the payroll without consequences, he said.
