A proposed amendment to the Employee Mobility Act would help public officials transfer between the government, its statutory corporations and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force while keeping their pensions intact, according to legislators and government officials.
Though the amendment was not discussed when it was introduced in the House of Assembly in July, government Human Resources Director Michelle Donovan-Stevens said it will update the public pension system.
“Whether you’re looking at public officers or police, teachers, there was not a seamless transfer of pension benefits,” she explained.
The amendment, which is expected to be debated during the next HOA sitting, will improve the public service because employees will be able to more easily transfer to departments that suit them best, Ms. Donovan-Stevens added.
“It’s an opportunity to better utilise talent in other areas based on the skills and needs of public servants and the different government departments,” she said.
The HR director declined to comment about whether government employees have reported frustrations when trying to transfer between agencies under the current pension system.
See the Oct. 1, 2015 edition for full coverage.
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