Cuepacs has not received an official circular from the Public Services Department (JPA) on the implementation of the Malaysian Remuneration System (SSM), an alternative salary scheme for civil servants scheduled to take effect on Nov 1.

Cuepacs president N Siva Subramaniam revealed this when contacted, noting however that a copy of the circular was available on the JPA website

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Asked for confirmation on whether the circular will be sent to the umbrella body for civil service unions, a JPA officer said it will be done pending the compiling of the bulky appendixes.

The SSM is to be an improved version of its predecessor, the New Remuneration System (SSB) introduced a decade ago, following complaints of biased annual assessment of performance by heads of departments when determining promotions.

The new scheme was announced by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on July 29.

However, a general discontent can be detected among civil servants as many are reluctant to sign up for it.

Minimal adjustment

The JPA has begun its roadshows to explain the new system to civil servants in the states.

Those who opt for the SSM will be given a special, transitional, one-off payment in November. This amounts to RM220 each for those in the Support Group, RM350 for the Management and Professional Group and RM650 for the Senior Management Group.

Siva said Cuepacs was seeking a meeting with the prime minister to discuss grievances raised over the implementation of the new scheme following a two-hour special meeting of the general council, its highest decision-making body, on Aug 20.

"There are several issues which we are unhappy about. We have sent a letter to Dr Mahathir and hope we can resolve this soon," he said.

Under salary adjustments, there will be an increase of RM15 for the Support Group, RM65 for the Management and Professional Group and RM110 for the Senior Management Group.

As the minimal increase of RM15 is said to be the reason civil servants are reluctant to opt for the SSM, Cuepacs is proposing to raise it to RM30.

"We are appealing to the government to reconsider increasing the RM15 salary adjustment for employees in the Support Group to a more suitable rate," added Siva.

Simplify test

Another issue Cuepacs plans to raise with Mahathir is for the first appointment grade to be placed under a two-tier salary scale namely P1 and P2 similar to that offered upon confirmation in employment.

"We also want the government to simplify the assessment course or test of the efficiency level to enable employees in the lower rung of the salary scale to pass," added Siva.

The New Straits Times today quoted JPA director-general Jamaluddin Ahmad Damanhuri as saying that, civil servants have one month until Oct 31 to opt for either scheme via an option letter to be sent out by end of the month.

Failure to return the option letters or state their choice to their heads of department by then would be deemed to mean that they preferred to stay put in the present scheme, he added.