The Ministry of Interior issued a letter that proposed communes to recruit experienced non-state framework assistants, with the purpose of ensuring effectiveness, accountability and transparency in commune administration work.

The letter, signed by interior minister Sar Kheng on December 24 and seen by The Post on December 27, stated that the non-state framework staffs, known as “assistants to commune administration”, are not civil servants.

Commune administrations with five to seven councils are authorised to recruit a maximum of two assistants, while any commune administration with nine to 11 councils can recruit at most three assistants.

“The wage of the commune assistants must be decided by the councils in accordance with existing laws. They have the right to get a bonus according to standard letters and laws,” it said.

The letter added that the recruitment must be done through a fair and transparent examination by referring to relevant qualifications of the applicants. The disabled, women, indigenous residents and permanent residents of the communes will be given priority in the recruitment.

Assistants to commune administrations can work under contract for at least three months but not more than 12 months, in each calendar year. The contract can be extended based on each commune administration’s need and existing standard letters.

Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak could not be reached for comment on December 27.

In the letter, the ministry also said commune administrations are authorised to recruit additional assistants given that there are financial supports from relevant institutions, partner NGOs or generous donors.

Such recruitment must fit with the workload of each commune, which is in line with the policy and advised procedure.

Arey Ksat commune chief Duch Chan said his commune in Kandal province’s Lvea Em district has one administrative assistant and plans to recruit another to manage financial work in the administration.

“So far [the assistant] helps the administrative work like writing letters or some legal documents when I am busy, but recently I have also asked the assistant to help with civil registry documents,” he said.

Affiliated Network for Social Accountability executive director San Chey supported the recruitment proposal. He hopes that by recruiting more assistants, the communes will be handling their workload more efficiently. However, there is a matter as to what extent the commune chiefs could manage their staff.

“Many staff members, [including] qualified ones, need great leaders in leadership and administrative work. [The commune] does not depend only on a [commune] clerk,” he said.

“With the help of qualified staff, the communes will deliver more effective work. [But the commune chiefs] need to know how to lead them.”

Chey also called for transparency in the examination for the assistants, hoping there will be no corruption or favouritism where friends or relatives are selected.

He said corrupted recruitment is still a chronic disease in the Cambodian society. Therefore, there is a need for proper monitoring and more attention on the process of recruitment for fair competition.