Top Regional Officials Get Ranking Upgrade
Prime Minister Hun Manet announced the promotion at the review of the 2023 work of the Ministry of Civil Service on April 5. He said the change aims to increase efficiency of sub-national officials. Photo: Prime Minister Hun Manet Facebook
- By Meng Seavmey
- April 5, 2024 11:50 AM
PHNOM PENH – Heads of sub-national departments will now have ranks equal to directors of national level departments.
Prime Minister Hun Manet announced the promotion at the review of the 2023 work of the Ministry of Civil Service on April 5. He said the change aims to increase efficiency of sub-national officials.
“The directors of capital/provincial departments play an important role in monitoring work at sub-national level and in connecting works to the national level,” Hun Manet said.
The promotion would expand the regional officials’ authority but the hierarchy remained the same.
Based on the current hierarchy, directors of capital/provincial departments are equal to ministry department deputy directors.
The change would apply to all capital-provincial departments, police commissioners, commanders of provincial military operations and Royal Gendarmeries and military police commanders, he said.
After discussions with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the PM said decentralization will not affect the capital-provincial power structure, and the procedure will remain between the provincial administrations and the ministries for promotions or appointments at sub-national level.
“Strong public administration starts at sub-national and national levels,” Hun Manet said. A lack of officials is a problem but choosing the right, skillful individuals for the work is another story.
“We have to motivate existing officials to work to their fullest as it’s better than recruiting new ones.
“However, it does not mean that we won’t seek new officials. We will just have to evaluate and analyze carefully before doing so.”
Hun Manet praised reforms of ministry recruitment exams. He said exams must guarantee the trust of the public, making sure that applicants feel proud when passing and are willing to accept failure.
Official recruitment must be transparent, fair, inclusive and efficient through exams which are in line with government principles.
In February, Civil Service Minister Hun Many was appointed as a deputy prime minister. Responding to the criticism, Hun Manet said the increased power made the work more effective.
