Civil servants invited to take voluntary redundancy

Civil servants on the Isle of Man have been approached to take voluntary redundancy.

A scheme has been brought in which is geared towards cutting the size of  government’s workforce - without the need for compulsory redundancies.

The Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS) will give individuals the option to leave their position in return for a severance package, which will work out at one month’s pay for every year they’ve been employed.

Workers have until the end of September to respond but not everyone who applies will be successful.

There are separate systems in place for those over pension age as well as those approaching retirement age.

Alf Cannan, who is chairman of the employers side of Whitley Council, is in favour of the scheme but says there is a concern that it could result in skill shortages:

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