This memorandum explains the arrangements for managing excess employees in public agencies, in accordance with the Government's policy on public employment announced in connection with the 1993/94 Budget.

The memorandum supercedes Memorandum 91-23.

New arrangements are fully detailed in the enclosed documents:

Successful Restructuring - People Aspects (prepared by the Office of the Director of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment); and,

the Government's policy on Managing Excess Employees, which includes an updated version of the revised job Assist Scheme.

Successful Restructuring - People Aspects draws on the practical experiences of public agencies in managing the restructuring processes. The document emphasises the importance of decisions taken during restructuring being balanced and fair - for customers, public employees and the community as a whole.

The revised arrangements for managing excess employees are set out in the new policy document, which includes an updated version of the job Assist Scheme.

The arrangements call for public agencies to consult closely with a newly formed group, the Workforce Management Centre (WMC) within the Department of Industrial Relations, Employment, Training & Further Education immediately situations are identified which are likely to result in excess employees. Agencies should advise the WMC immediately of the current numbers of excess employees. Chief Executives are not to approve the separation of excess employees from public employment by way of voluntary redundancy or retrenchment before clearance from the WMC to proceed.

The centre will consider the possible collective impact of agencies' plans on the community, particularly possible adverse impact on identifiable groups or particular regions and report to the Minister for Industrial Relations and Employment and Minister for the Status of Women. The Minister will consult

with other Ministers as appropriate. The WMC's role will also encompass provision of advice toagencies onthe prospects for redeployment of excess employees to other agencies, co-ordination of redeployment arrangements across agencies and provision of counselling, assessment and retraining services.

Excess employees are to have a choice of redeployment or voluntary redundancy. Where excess employees nominate redeployment but, as a result of initial assessment by the WMC, this is found not to be practicable, voluntary redundancy may be offered. If offers of voluntary redundancy are not accepted, retrenchment is available to agencies as a last resort.

The updated arrangements also strengthen the assistance available for excess employees with redeployment, or in making the adjustments necessary where they leave public employment. All employees are to be given access to the package of services available from the WMC or a similar service, either within the agency or through a commercial provider.

Further advice will be issued to CE0s by the Department of Industrial Relations, Employment, Training & Further Education giving details of the functions and contact officers in the new Workforce Management Centre, shortly.

If agencies have any queries in relation to the management of excess employees relevant contacts are:

Department of Industrial Relations, Employment, Training & Further Education: Mr David Clark, phone: 2668248.

Office of the Director of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment: Ms Caroline Alcorso, phone: 3682555.

Issued by:

Contact: Noella Jorm (phone: 2283163)

Date: 15 October 1993