At least 70 per cent of citizens are satisfied with recruitment processes in public service, according to a new survey by the Public Service Commission (PSC). The findings, published last week, followed a survey conducted between the 2013/14 and 2014/15 fiscal years, covering 129 public institutions, including ministries, agencies and commissions, local governments and higher learning institutions. The target groups in the survey were employees, job-seekers, recruiting agencies and human resource firms. The study sought to determine the current level of citizen satisfaction on recruitment practices, and to make a proposal on what should be done to improve recruitment processes to get competent staff in the public service. Some 1,035 respondents were interviewed across the country; 51.6 per cent of them employees and the rest job-seekers. While 61.8 per cent of those in employment expressed satisfaction in appointment process, only 38.9 per cent of job-seekers said they were satisfied. According to the survey, issues relating to appointment processes manifest in promptness in appointing successful candidates, ensuring a corruption-free appointment, existence of appeal mechanism on delayed appointment. Laurent Ndiramiye, a consultant for the commission, recommended the fast-tracking of the implementation of e-Recruitment, saying it will significantly reduce some of the irregularities in recruitment process. PSC chairperson Francois Habiyakare acknowledged that there is need to expedite e-Recruitment system as well as enforcing the Presidential Order on Recruitment to close the gaps in the process. “The e-Recruitment system will improve transparency in recruitment process by enabling e-applications, online acknowledgement of received applications, among other services,” he said. The report also recommended that institutions take responsibility and fully own short-listing process, develop a regulatory framework and certification of recruiting firms. “Take measures to promote whistle-blowing on corruption in recruitment,” the report recommended, adding that Government must raise public awareness on recruitment regulations and the role of PSC. Equal opportunity and equitable recruitment processes are among the fundamental rights, according to the Constitution. “We will continue to work together with responsible bodies to ensure that job-seekers, as well as employers in the public service, are comfortable with the processes and procedures of recruitment,” said Angelina Muganza, the executive secretary of PSC. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
