By Tim Lambourne
The Government has revealed it's intending to cut several hundred extra jobs from the public sector, on top of the 460 jobs already targeted to go.
Speaking on The Nation this morning, State Services Minister Tony Ryall put the public sector on notice.
"I think we'll see several hundred more over that 500," said Mr Ryall. "That's a reflection of the fact that individual government departments are looking at how best they can organise themselves with no funding increases."
Nearly 1500 staff have already left the sector, with 460 more to go by the end of the year, leaving just under 37,000 staff.
3 News understands the Govervnment will focus its cuts and restructuring in the Education, Health and Social Development ministries, and in the Inland Revenue Department.
"Inevitably the work doesn't reduce and the number of cases coming in to different departments doesn't diminish, so those who are left are having to work harder and work longer hours," says Brenda Pilott, PSA national secretary.
But Mr Ryall is unrepentant.
"The real important message we're giving the public service is just like the private sector, just like families, things are a lot tighter and people have to make sure that they're focusing on productivity and value for money."
But National is being accused of breaking a pre-election promise.
"National certainly made a promise to cap, and not cut the public sector, and we've seen nearly 1500 jobs go last year, hundreds more going this year, so clearly that is a broken promise," says Labour's Grant Robertson.
Mr Ryall says he'll be able to confirm how many jobs will go in the next couple of months as projections from the various departments come in.
3 News