26574 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

26574 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: In the Minister’s departments, ministries and agencies for which savings have been identified resulting from the Government’s directive to reduce expenditure in the public service, if any, how many staff have been made redundant, as at 30 May 2024?

Hon Louise Upston: I am advised by the Ministry of Social Development that no staff have been made redundant as a result of the Government’s directive to reduce expenditure in the public service. There was one voluntary redundancy process initiated by the Ministry in April 2024. Of those that applied, 218 people were accepted for voluntary redundancy and are in the process of finishing with the Ministry. The total cost of voluntary redundancy compensation is $14,853,921 gross. MSD is currently in a change consultation process which has a proposed net reduction of 97 positions. Until the Ministry completes the change processes, the total costs for any redundancies will not be known.