Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

Disqualifying State ERP from FSM Public Service Re-employment

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): March 20, 1998 – FSM President is submitting a measure
to Congress Speaker, disqualifying the State Participants of the early retirement from
appointment in the early FSM Public Service System.

Nena, in a March 17th Communication addressed to the four State Governors, the
President said that he is submitting to Congress for its favorable action, a proposed
amendment to Section 136 of FSM Code title 52, Public Service System.

The proposed amendment, is in response to concerns raised by many officials
regarding the National Government employing State Government early retiree. If become law,
will disqualify the FSM National Government to employ State participants in ERP.

The duration of the disqualification would be for the same period as if the early
retiree had been a National Government retiree.

This would be in keeping with the purpose of our nation-wide Public Service Reform
Program, Nena stated.

The exact language of the amendment states: “(3) Participation in a State
Government’s Early Retirement Program, which program is part of the nationwide Public
Service Reform Program funded through a loan from the Asian Development Ban, shall be a
basis for disqualification from appointments in the public service. Such disqualification
shall be effective for so long as the candidate would have been disqualified from such
appointment if the candidate had participated in the National Government Early Retirement
Program.”

President Nena urges each governor’s legal staff to prepare similar proposed
legislation for enactment by the states legislatures which would disqualify the FSM Early
Retirement Program participant from employment in the State’s Public Service System.

This prohibition does not affect the elected officials, politically appointed
officials, who by nature of their appointments are exempted from the Public Services
System Act.