Acivil service commission (also known as a Public Service Commission) is agovernment agency or public body that is established by the constitution, or by the legislature, to regulate the employment and working conditions ofcivil servants, oversee hiring and promotions, and promote the values of the public service. Its role is roughly analogous to that of thehuman resources department in corporations. Civil service commissions are often independent from elected politicians, maintaining the separation of the permanent, professional civil service from government ministers.
InFiji for example, the PSC reviews government statutory powers to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in meeting public sector management objectives. It also acts as the human relations department, or central personnel authority, for the citizens' interactions with the government.
The origin of the public service commission in many former British colonies was theWhite Paper Colonial 197 issued in 1950, which set out measures which were proposed to improve the quality and efficiency of theColonial Service of the British administration. The setting up of public service commissions was proposed in its paragraph 21(xi) which mentioned that:[1]
Public Service Commissions should be established in the Colonies. Subject to the general overriding powers of the Secretary of State, the selection and appointment of candidates in the Colonies to posts in the local service will lie with the Governor of the Colony. It is desirable that the Governor should be advised in these matters by a Public Service Commission appointed by him and so composed as to command the confidence of the Service and the public;
and that:
such Commissions should be established in the Colonies to advise the Governor on the selection and appointment of candidates to posts in the local service, and should be so composed as to command the confidence of the Service and the public.
Afghanistan: Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission
Australian Public Service Commission[2]
Bangladesh Public Service Commission[3]
Bhutan: Royal Civil Service Commission
Brunei Public Service Commission[4]
Public Service Commission of Canada[5]
Taiwan:Examination Yuan of theRepublic of China[6]
Fiji Public Service Commission[7]
Hong Kong Public Service Commission[8]
India:Union Public Service Commission
Indonesia:National Civil Service Agency
Ireland:Office of the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners abolished 2004; succeeded by:
Israel:State Service Commission [he]
Kenya Public Service Commission[9]
Malaysia:Public Service Commission[10]
Mauritius Public Service Commission[11]
Myanmar:Union Civil Service Board[12]
Nepal:Public Service Commission
Nigeria:
Pakistan:Federal Public Service Commission
Philippines:Civil Service Commission[13]
Samoa Public Service Commission[14]
Sri Lanka Public Service Commission[15]
Somaliland Civil Service Commission[16]
South Africa Public Service Commission[17]
Singapore:Public Service Commission
Spain:Superior Personnel Commission
United Kingdom:Civil Service Commission[18]
United States:
Zimbabwe Public Service Commission