UK govt to fire civil servants who fail to make savings

Senior civil servants in the UK could lose their jobs if they fail to make savings, while those who do will receive bonuses, the government said on Thursday.

The moves come as part of an effort by the Cabinet Office, the ministry that supports the prime minister in running the government, to create a "more agile and modern" state.

Under the new policy, all senior civil servants will have to meet a set of core standards, including being able to demonstrate they have made savings, the ministry said in a statement sent to AFP on Thursday.

Those who do not meet the minimum standards will be placed on a performance development plan, which could lead to dismissal if no improvement is observed.

"We need to reform the state to make it more agile and modern so we can transform the public services people rely on every day," said Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden.

"It is vital that senior leaders are not just encouraged, but held responsible for this," he added.

"We will introduce new checks to identify and tackle poor performance where we find it, and to recognize the good work of senior leaders across the civil service," he added.

Government departments have been told to find savings worth five percent of their budgets as the UK struggles to rein in public borrowing against the backdrop of a stagnant economy.