Dialogue is to take place with staff representatives over a proposal to create a single employing authority for most central government public servants. The move follows consultation responses from some unions indicating that they would like more information on the proposal before finalising their views. The establishment of a new Public Service Employing Authority (PSEA) was the main recommendation of a working group set up by the Council of Ministers to look at the future of Government’s human resources arrangements, which currently embrace more than 15 separate employing bodies. The consultation document issued in April this year made it clear that no decision had been made on creating a PSEA, and it set out arguments both for and against the proposal. The consultation attracted a total of 117 responses, 23 from organisations and 94 from individuals, 92 of whom were associated with the field of education. A consultation response report now published by the Office of Human Resources shows that a majority of respondents expressed opposition to the PSEA proposal, but adds that most did so on the grounds that their own employment group should be excluded from the authority. ‘The responses received highlighted the need for additional information on how a PSEA would work in practice to provide clarification so that the impact of establishing a PSEA is better understood,’ notes the report. The report says the Council of Ministers has agreed that the Office of Human Resources should conduct a further exercise to clarify matters including dialogue with affected groups. This is to be done in consultation with Infrastructure Minister, Phil Gawne, chairman of the original working group which carried out the HR Functions Review. In the meantime, the report concludes, ‘the Office of Human Resources will be charged with continuing to address many of the shortcomings within current HR systems as highlighted in the HR Functions Review.’ The PSEA consultation response report can be found at: http://www.gov.im/ConsultationDetail.gov?id=235 Ends