CSC fixes promotion delays faced by women after maternity leave

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has introduced significant amendments to the procedure for granting salary increments to civil servants under the state’s new pay framework, aiming to resolve delays in step promotion caused by maternity leave.

According to a CSC circular, six amendments have been made to Article 3, which outlines additional considerations in awarding salary promotions.

Under the existing rules, civil servants must score 85 percent in two consecutive years of Performance Appraisal (PA) to qualify for a pay promotion. The amended clause now allows employees who fail to complete the required 90-day PA period due to long absences, such as maternity leave or suspension, to qualify if they achieve 85 percent in two years of PA after returning to work.

The circular also states that when an employee transfers between agencies and does not complete 90 days in either office by year-end, the total number of days worked across both agencies may be combined.

However, a PA used once for a pay promotion cannot be reused for a second promotion.

The changes follow a petition submitted to Parliament raising concerns that women were facing difficulties in obtaining step promotions after taking maternity leave, due to the strict 90-day PA requirement.

The petition, led by Mariyam Shifana Hussain, has gathered more than 1,300 signatures. It argues that maternity leave is essential for women’s empowerment and family wellbeing, and that denying promotions due to this leave undermines the purpose of the policy and causes disappointment among working mothers.