Burkina Faso Implements Measures to Support Public Workers in Insecure Zones

OUAGADOUGOU – The government of Burkina Faso has introduced new regulations aimed at ensuring the continued presence and career advancement of public workers, as well as facilitating the hiring of new staff during security crises.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Ibrahim Traoré, the country has established a national commission along with regional and provincial commissions tasked with managing public servants and the public service in areas affected by insecurity.

These commissions are charged with gathering and analyzing information about public officials and administrative infrastructures impacted by the security situation. Their responsibilities also include providing assistance, psychological care, and managing the redeployment of affected personnel.

The decree mandates that during periods of security crisis, all public officials, excluding military personnel, are expected to maintain their duties to ensure the continuity of public services, adapting as necessary to the situation. It specifies that public workers may be legally obligated to fulfill their roles and serve the public without discrimination.

To accommodate the unique challenges posed by a security crisis, the decree allows for civil service recruitment competitions to be restricted to specific constituencies when needed. It also permits the submission of physical application files in areas where online registration is not feasible, subject to the approval of the relevant minister.

Furthermore, the legislation provides for the possibility of holding exams and competitions at different times for employees engaged in security operations. It also addresses the evaluation of employees who are compelled to evacuate their workplaces due to insecurity, ensuring that they are not penalized for assignments in challenging areas if security conditions are not met.

This initiative comes as Burkina Faso contends with terrorist attacks that have forced hundreds of thousands of people, including public workers, to flee their homes, disrupting the normal functioning of public services in affected regions.