Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK has welcomed the implementation of legislation to modernise and streamline the structures through which the Government employs its workforce.

The Public Services Commission Act – which comes into effect next Tuesday (September 1, 2015) – brings civil servants together with manual and craft workers under a single new employing body, the Public Services Commission (PSC).

The PSC will be responsible for around 4,000 staff, about half of all public sector employees. It supersedes the Civil Service Commission and Whitley Council, which dealt separately with terms and conditions for civil servants and manual/craft workers.

A new body, the Public Services Commission Joint Negotiating Committee (made up of Government, Unite the Union and Prospect representatives), will take over the role of negotiating terms and conditions and other employment matters such as pay.

Mr Bell, who launched a public consultation on the new legislation in 2013, commented: ‘The introduction of the Public Services Commission is another example, like cutting the number of Departments, of this administration delivering on its commitment to streamline organisational structures, reduce bureaucracy, and make the internal workings of Government more efficient.

‘The creation of the PSC is all about modernising the framework and culture of Government. It heralds a new era in the field of public sector employment in the Isle of Man.’

Chairman of the Public Services Commission is Policy and Reform Minister John Shimmin MHK. He said: ‘Bringing staff together under a single employing body is a major change for Government and I look forward to working with union representatives on the Joint Negotiating Committee to make the PSC a success.’