He said the new recruitment policy would be implemented this year, with details to be announced by Public Service Department (PSD) director-general Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz.
Ahmad Zahid said the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today also clarified that there was a mistake in the statement that the new civil servant recruitment was for contractual positions.
"It is not meant as that, it is a contract for a short period before the Cabinet approves the new policy of non-pensionable permanent employment.
"They will contribute to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), and the government will provide contributions just like private sector employees," he told newsmen after a working visit to the Civil Defence Force (APM) headquarters in Sungai Merab here yesterday.
It said the decision was made to ensure the government achieves long-term financial sustainability.
The department also hoped that improvements to the public service remuneration system would enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of public service delivery and safeguard the welfare of civil servants in line with the Malaysia MADANI aspirations.
Meanwhile, according to PSD's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), the contract appointments will be implemented in stages, starting with the appointment of federal civil servants under the Public Services Commission (PSC), with the Malaysian Armed Forces and Police Service schemes being exempted from this process.
It added that applications for contract appointments would be similar to permanent appointments, done through the SPA9 portal, with all recruitment processes conducted by PSC.
"The contract period is three years or until the permanent appointment method comes into effect. The salary for officers appointed on a contract basis is the same as that for permanent appointments," it said.
According to PSD, the performance evaluation process for contract officers is based on existing policies and regulations, while the termination process is based on contract terms.
On whether the initial salary of contract officers takes into account previous work experience, PSD said it can be considered by the Appointing Authority, subject to the current regulations and policies in force.
-- BERNAMA
