President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that he will instruct relevant authorities that state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and government offices must not hire individuals without a public announcement and that both hiring and promotions must be based on merit.
According to information obtained by "Mihaaru," the President made these remarks in a message sent today to a WhatsApp group consisting of Ministers and heads of state companies.
"Jobs and promotions should not be things obtained by speaking to a specific person," the President said in the message.
The President stated that, moving forward, employment and promotions must be granted based on an individual's merit.
"I have informed all relevant parties not to hire anyone without an announcement, and among those who apply through announcements, not to provide employment or promotions in any way other than on a merit basis," the President reportedly wrote in the message.
These remarks come amidst administrative changes the President began implementing following last April’s Local Council Elections. These changes include reducing staff in state companies and deciding not to appoint anyone to certain positions unless they meet specific educational standards.
Furthermore, during a press conference held on the 20th of last month, the President stated that the election results revealed the public does not approve of granting political jobs, whether related to a campaign or otherwise, and that he will no longer do so.
In that press conference, the President noted that the people have said the time has come to stop giving jobs to anyone for campaign or political reasons.
"The people have said that giving jobs to any party in connection with a campaign or politically must now come to an end in this country. Therefore, I am proceeding in that manner from now on,"
"As I just mentioned, no SOE or Ministry should hire an employee unless it is through an announcement and application process, looking at the person’s CV and based on merit. This government will carry out that policy from now on," the President said.
On that day, the President also stated that if anyone has been given a job in violation of regulations, instructions have already been issued to the agencies to terminate the person who granted that employment.
To strengthen the systems and management of state-owned companies, the Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB) has already been instructed to reduce the number of employees in these companies by 33 percent. Finance Minister Moosa Zameer has stated that it is estimated there are 42,000 employees in government companies.
