PORT VILA, MARCH 27th, 2025. The Office of the Public Service Commission (OPSC) has received only 28 percent of 2024 Performance Appraisals of 2, 961 permanent public servants for assessment of 2024 individual performance.
The Human Resource Unit of the OPSC successfully conducted the performance evaluations for individual officers, covering 13 ministries and 54 departments. These evaluations focused on reviewing the timely submission of annual Performance Appraisals for all permanent officers, as required.
A total of 2,961 permanent officers employed by the Public Service Commission (PSC) under 54 departments and 13-line ministries that are obliged to submit their 2024 staff individual performance appraisals. The OPSC received only 833 performance appraisals that were submitted and completed for 2024 with final ratings, an equivalent of 28% of the total permanent public servants who made attempt to submit their 2024 Performance Appraisals.
According to the Individual Performance Appraisal Report submitted to the PSC, out of the 833 permanent staff, the overall performance ratings were awarded as follows:
- 37% with ratings of Excellent,
- 54% with rating of Very Satisfactory,
- 8% with ratings of Satisfactory,
- 6% with Some Shortfall and
- 4% with Major Shortfall.
The following are the government ministries with late submissions but made an attempt to submit their completed 2024 staff Performance Appraisals:
- Ministry of Infrastructure & Public Utilities
- Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
- Ministry of Education and Training
- Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Forestry and Biosecurity
- Ministry of Internal Affairs
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs & External Trade
- Ministry of Climate Change & Adaptation
- Ministry of Youth Development and Sports
- Ministry of Health
- Office of the Public Service Commission
Government ministries who have not made any attempt to submit completed 2024 staff Performance Appraisals:
- Ministry of the Prime Minister
- Ministry of Finance & Economic Management
- Ministry of Trade and Commerce
- Ministry of Justice & Community Services
As per the Public Service Staff Manual (Chapter 10, Section B) which clearly outlines the process of individual staff performance and stipulated in the Constitution, Article 60 provides for the functions of the Public Service Commission stating that the PSC shall be responsible for the appointment and promotion of public servants, and the selection of those to undergo training courses in Vanuatu or overseas and that the Commission shall also be responsible for the discipline of public servants.
In addition, one of the Guiding Principles of the Public Service stipulated in the Public Service Staff Manual is to focus on achieving results and managing performance, consequently one of the objective of the Commission is that to determine a person’s merit for appointment or promotion to a post or salary increment, it has to be accorded to the standard and efficiency of work performance; in addition to formal qualifications and training, personal qualities including conduct and the skill and ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of respective post.
According to PSC’s performance management process, a staff is appraised according to his annual work plan that is aligned to the organization’s business plan and the Job Description; the annual work plan is signed by all parties (appraiser, appraisee and reviewer) before submission to the OPSC by February 28th of each year. A mid-year review is done and submitted by 30th June each year and the End of year review must be submitted to the OPSC by 31st of December of each year.
The purpose of performance management is to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the public service, assist organization to sustain continuous improvement in quality, cost, safety in meeting the Commission’s obligations, highlight visible performance gaps and areas of improvement in the staff member and organizational performance and provide timely feedback on the effect of the individual and Public Service performance assessment.
Ultimately, the heads of government ministries and departments namely Director Generals (DGs) and Directors which have not comply with the performance management process will receive a warning letter by the Commission as recommended. In addition, public servants who have not submitted their 2024 appraisals will be subject to review of their GRT increment as per the Commission’s decision.