SINGLE PUBLIC SERVICE (SPS)

PHASE 4: TOWARD LEGISLATION FOR THE SINGLE PUBLIC SERVICE:

CABINET DECISION, SCOPE, PROGRESS, AND WAY FORWARD

Presentation to the Portfolio Committee

16 August 2006

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Outline of Presentation

Objectives of the Single Public Service Key decisions obtained from Cabinet Progress to date Time lines Conclusion

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Objectives of the SPS

Deepening integrated service delivery Currently government service delivery is fragmented Service delivery departments and municipalities operate

within silos, and provide only their own services to the public

Are exceptions such as MPCCs and CDWs which offer and facilitate a multiplicity of services

However, the challenge of genuine integration of services still remains

Able to receive a basket of government services from officials who can provide a range of services

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Objectives cont. Strategic alignment

The institutions that comprise the machinery of the developmental state have to be strategically aligned and harmonized to complement one another so as to operate effectively and fulfill the needs of SA society

Rationale for this approach is premised on The need for the provision of seamless service delivery and

optimum utilisation of resources to the benefit of the citizens Creation of government institutions that are accessible,

efficient, representative, accountable and responsive to the service delivery needs

Those providing the services should have a clear understanding of those needs and be as close as possible to the citizens

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Objectives cont.

Creation of a more cohesive workforce consisting of all spheres of government to facilitate the process of devolution of powers and functions and the deployment of staff to where they are most needed

The creation of a single authority to:- Set national norms and standards on HR, ICT, etc

matters; Ensure regular monitoring and reporting; Ensure compliance

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Key decisions obtained from Cabinet

As part of the work for phase 4 (legislation) of the SPS project Cabinet endorsed the following proposals on 31 May 2006:

A one-stage legislative process which will create a Single Public Service of the three spheres of government be adopted

Scope of the legislation to cover public service and local govt only

Legislation (regulating organisational and hr matters, conditions of service, labour relations, anti-corruption, service delivery and ICT for the SPS) be introduced and administered by a single authority, the MPSA

The conditions of service applicable in a Single Public Service be informed by the Personnel Expenditure Review currently in progress by the DPSA

The implementation strategy and work plans guide the drafting of the legislation

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Key decisions obtained from Cabinet

In its decision, Cabinet: Reaffirmed that the SPS has as its goal to:

Improve integrated service delivery Establish a more cohesive workforce

Noted that the realisation of the SPS must take place within the IGR Framework legislation and that the dplg will play a pivotal role

Noted that whilst maintaining the independence of the spheres of Government, synergies and co-ordination of efforts toward achieving the SPS needs to be established

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Notes on the decisions Achieving the vision of a Single Public Service presents many

challenges, given the disparities and fragmentation that currently exist

Legislation is therefore proposed to establish the framework for a Single Public Service

An Implementation Strategy and a Legislative Work plan will guide the drafting of the legislation  

MPSA and key partners will proceed directly to the drafting of single public service legislation rather than to develop separate legislation regulating local government in the interim

The proposal is that the SPS legislation will vest with the MPSA with the power to determine generally applicable norms and standards on the organisational, governance, human resources (including conditions of service) and service delivery aspects for both the current public service and local government. 

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Progress

Five Workstreams for the SPS: Service Delivery: Access and Cascading Batho Pele to

Local Government (front office) ICT enablement of the SPS (back office) Human Resource Management and Development

(institutional integration) Anti-corruption Framework Legislation for the SPS

Governance Arrangements G & A Task Team Inter-departmental work teams established for each

work stream

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Post Cabinet Approach

To take Cabinet decisions forward workshop convened on 11 July 06 with key roleplayers present

Objective: Give effect to Cabinet decisions Extend current task team to include all role players Provide briefing to role players Establish smaller work groups based on work streams Ensure work groups take the process forward within the Cabinet approved

work plan Agreed deliverables for 2006/7 financial year:

Draft legislation for consultation Access strategy and implementation plan Remuneration policy for the public sector Decision on ICT catalytic project and commence research &

development Continuation with the Cascading of Batho Pele to Local Gov level

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Workshop Outcomes: Legal Drafting

Legal Drafting Legal drafting workplan endorsed Roles and responsibilities delineated: dpsa (convener &

secretariat), members: the Presidency, dplg, GCIS, NT and SALGA

Risk: target date for completion of drafting, delays may arise during consultation process

Progress: 2 meetings of the task team convened, progress to be reported at 2nd Task Team workshop scheduled for 28 August 2006

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Work Shop Outcomes: Anti-Corruption

Work to commence on the drafting of an enabling clause for the primary legislation (Oct 2006)

Review of national Anti-Corruption framework (Dec 2007) Public Sector Anti-Corruption Strategy (Dec 2008) Incorporate into overarching SPS legislation (regulations) Roles and Responsibilities:

Dpsa, dplg, NT, SALGA, Provincial reps Risks: work needs to be carefully managed as tasks will

run concurrently; poor participation by team members; possible terrain issues

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Workshop Outcomes: Service Delivery(Access and Batho Pele)

Work to continue on finalisation of Access Strategy and Implementation Plan

Roles and responsibilities: dpsa (convener), gcis, dplg, DOC, DHA and SALGA

Way forward: Communication strategy to be developed as part of the

Access work Final Access Strategy to be ready by Oct 2006 Cascading of Batho Pele to Loc Gov to continue

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Progress in General: Access and Batho Pele

Steady progress has been made: MPCCs

As at end of March 06, 88 MPCCs established Centre managers have been trained in customer care and

Batho Pele principles of service delivery Implementation plan and strategy currently being

designed for the roll out of the 2nd generation MPCCs, Roll out is a major contribution not only in terms of

improving state performance but to ensure dualism addressed by widening citizen’s access to government services and information

Government’s target: one MPCC per local municipality by 2014

Urban malls: plans mooted to establish government service delivery malls to complement MPCC initiative

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Progress in General: Access & Batho Pele cont.

Cascading Batho Pele to Local Government Change Management Engagement Programme designed

and implemented in ff local gov structures: WC – Drakenstein, Breede Valley, Stellenbosch,

Swellendam KZN – Ethkwini metro, 9 districts, others to follow Gaut – City of Jhb, City of Tshwane (discussions

underway) Meetings with Limpopo, NW and Mpu planned to discuss

roll out of training programme Batho Pele Gateway Community Development Workers

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Progress in General: Access and Batho Pele cont.

Access framework & strategy deepened: Projects will focus on achieving ff outcomes:

Integrated Services (Basket of services) To enhance seamless service delivery and impact To improve customer experience To improve operational systems: front office and back office

integration To foster a culture of service delivery by inculcating “a new way

of thinking” and a new set of behaviours To develop basic service standards for integrated service

delivery To increase compliance with service standards (strengthen

M&E) Use of relevant language (sign + braille) Eliminating barriers experienced by people with disability

Enhancing channels delivering services

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Progress in General: ICT

MPSA has specific responsibility for the management of ICT within government as well as ensuring that e-Gov is coherently developed across the Public Service.

Integration of the back office aims to ensure that government ICT or Info Systems implementation are governed by the ICT House of Values principles espoused in the e-Gov policy: interoperability, security, economies of scale and elimination of duplication

Comprehensive e-Gov Framework Programme has been developed consisting of:

Conceptual framework Policy and strategy Architecture Governance framework Implementation approach

Consultations currently underway and will be concluded soon

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Progress in General: ICT cont. Batho Pele Gateway Portal

Service content info translated to 7 languages with remaining 4 to follow

A website co-existence strategy drafted for consultation to ensure that BP Gateway Portal will co-exist harmoniously with other websites in all 3 spheres

eIGIS (Inventory of Gov Info Sys) completed and is a prerequisite for further e-Gov system integration work

Catalytic project under consideration Inclusion of Local Gov in the IFMS part of SPS

proposals (in collaboration with NT)

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Progress in General: Institutional Integration

Development of policy and legislation Legislation to regulate local government employment

matters developed (to be included as a chapter in the overarching SPS Legislation)

Policy framework on the governance and administration of public entities developed

SPS implementation strategy and workplan to guide the development of framework legislation for the single public service developed and endorsed by Cabinet

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Progress: Institutional Integration cont. Human resource management and development for the SPS

Review of prevailing hrm practices in the Public Service, Local Government and Public Entities with the ultimate objective of developing a common set of norms and standards pertaining to employment practices to be undertaken

Fighting Corruption, Conflict of Interest and Conduct: Designing norms and standards for the SPS

Need for a public sector-wide approach to fighting corruption was identified by the Anti-Corruption Coordinating Committee (ACCC) during 2002

Goal is to have a single Public Sector Governance Strategy by 2008/09 A compliance audit and gap analysis of the PS Anti-Corruption Strategy

was conducted in 2005/6 with a country corruption report expected by Dec 2007

Assessments to form basis of sectoral consultations and the development of policy proposals on a Public Sector Governance Strategy

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Progress: Institutional Integration cont.

Rationalization of Conditions of Service in the Local Government Sector:

Work on a single pension fund for LG Registration of the Local Gov Pension Fund is currently with the

Registrar Defined contribution fund targeting 30 000 employees who have no

retirement provision and all new employees SALGA engaging stakeholders on future arrangements for employees

belonging to existing funds

Six medical aid schemes accredited with plans to reduce further

Job Evaluation System Collective agreement that TASK system will apply

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Progress: Institutional Integration Cont.

Municipal Performance Regulations for Senior Managers in Local Government drafted by MPLG On 31 May 2006, MPLG issued regulations Regs sets out how the performance of municipalities will

be uniformly directed, monitored and improved Intervention by MPLG should be seen as a further step to

achieving standardization with the local government sector, with the view to eventually assisting and facilitating the Single Public Service

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Time lines: Legal Drafting Program

Nov ’06: Draft Bill to Cabinet for approval to publish for public comment

Dec ’06: Publish draft Bill for comment

Jan-Feb ’07: Comment & consultation period

Jul ’07: Draft Bill to Cabinet for approval for introduction in Parliament

Oct ’07: Introduction in Parliament

Mar ’08: Anticipated adoption by Parliament

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Time lines: Legal Drafting Program cont.

May ’08: Publish draft SPS Regulations for comment

Jun–Aug ’08: Comment & consultation period

Jan ’09: Draft Regulations to Cabinet for in-principle approval

Feb ’09: Publication of Regulations in Gazette

Mar ’09: Commencement of SPS Act & Mar ’09: Commencement of SPS Act & RegulationsRegulations

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Conclusion

The broad goal of establishing a single public service is ultimately about improving service delivery to the people

An integrated public service with harmonious systems, conditions of service and norms will reduce fragmentation and promote more efficient coordination between the different spheres of government, facilitating seamless service delivery

Mobility of staff between the spheres thereby facilitating optimal deployment of skills and allocation of functions

The mechanism that will allow for this is the framework legislation for the Single Public Service, hence government’s determination that this legislation is ready for consultation by the end of this year

SIYABONGA