National Socialization and Dissemination of the Public Service Legislative Frameworks Convened in Tulagi

The Ministry of Public Service (MPS) has commenced a four-day National Socialisation and Consultation Workshop on the Public Service Act 2025, together with consultations on the draft Public Service Regulations and Public Service Orders, being held from 4 to 7 May 2026 in Tulagi, Central Province.

The workshop brings together senior government officials, technical officers, and key stakeholders from across the Solomon Islands Public Service as part of a coordinated effort to strengthen understanding and support effective implementation of ongoing public service reforms.

The workshop was officially opened on 4 May 2026 by the Permanent Secretary for Public Service, Mr Luke Cheka, who also chairs the Public Service Legislative Socialisation and Dissemination Taskforce. In his opening remarks, Mr Cheka welcomed participants and underscored the significance of the reform agenda, stating:

“Today marks a significant milestone in our collective journey to strengthen and modernise the public service. These reforms are not merely administrative updates; they represent a deliberate shift toward a more accountable, transparent, efficient, and inclusive public sector that delivers effectively for our people.”

He further emphasised that the reform process is not only about awareness, but about building shared understanding, ownership, and consistent application of the Public Service Act 2025 and its supporting instruments across the public service.

Mr Cheka highlighted that the Public Service Act 2025 provides a renewed legal foundation for managing and developing the public service, with strengthened provisions on merit, integrity, professionalism, conduct, discipline, and performance management. He stressed that the effectiveness of the Act will depend on how well it is understood and implemented across all levels of government.

He further noted that the consultation on the draft Public Service Regulations and Public Service Orders is a critical step in operationalising the Act. These instruments, he explained, are intended to guide day-to-day administrative and human resource decision-making across ministries, agencies and provinces and therefore require practical input from stakeholders to ensure they are clear, workable, and responsive to real operational contexts.

Participants were encouraged to actively engage in the consultation process by sharing their views, raising concerns, and contributing practical insights to strengthen the finalisation of the legislative instruments.

In addition to the legislative framework, the workshop also includes presentations on key reform initiatives. These include the Solomon Islands Public Service Transformation Strategy, which provides the long-term vision for a modern, capable, and citizen-focused public service; the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Framework, which supports evidence-based decision-making, accountability, and continuous improvement; and the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Policy, which reinforces the commitment to fairness, inclusivity, and equal opportunity within the public service.

Mr Cheka emphasised that these frameworks are interconnected and collectively support the broader reform agenda aimed at improving performance, leadership, and service delivery across government.

The Public Service Act 2025 was passed by Parliament on 24 October 2025 and assented to by the Governor General on 20 November 2025. In accordance with the Act, the Minister for Public Service will determine its commencement following nationwide socialisation and consultation.

As part of the MEAL Framework, the SIPS Satisfaction Survey will be conducted on Day 3 of the workshop to capture participant feedback on their understanding of the legislative frameworks and the effectiveness of the delivery approach. The findings will inform ongoing refinement of policies, capacity development, and continuous improvement within the Ministry.

The taskforce noted that the workshop represents an important step in ensuring that the Public Service legislative frameworks are clearly understood, consulted, and consistently applied across government. Following the Tulagi session, the nationwide rollout will continue, with the next phase scheduled for Malaita Province.

MPS team during a courtesy call with the CIPG Executive. Front row (L–R): Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Service (MPS), Mr Luke Cheka; Deputy Premier – CIPG; and Deputy Secretary-CIPG, Mr Emmanuel Butafa. Back row (L–R): Deputy Secretary -WFM, Mr David Suirara; and Deputy Secretary – GPM, Mr Ian Rakafia.