Brunei Darussalam as the chair for the second year of the ASEAN Cooperation on Civil Service Matters (ACCSM) for 2023-2024, presented an update on the progress of the ACCSM and ACCSM Plus Three (ACCSM+3) Work Plan 2021-2025, outlining strategies to ensure the completion of projects and activities by the end of 2025.
The work plan includes programmes and workshops for the exchange and sharing of best practices in the public service among ASEAN member states and ASEAN Plus Three countries.
Around 28 projects and programmes under the ACCSM and ACCSM+3 Work Plan 2021-2025 have been completed.
The development of the ACCSM Work Plan 2026-2030 was also discussed, based on the agreement to maintain the priority areas outlined in the 2021-2025 Work Plan; enhancing workforce competencies and standards in public sector; building institutional capacities and inter-agency coordination; transformative leadership; strengthening ASEAN resource centres (ARCs); and public sector reform and modernisation.
Themed ‘Strengthening ASEAN Public Sector: Fit for the Future’, the 22nd ACCSM meeting and the 7th ACCSM+3 meeting (China, Japan, Korea) were held at The Empire Brunei and will take place for three days.
Director-General of Public Service as Senior Official for ACCSM Brunei Darussalam Dr Norfarizal bin Othman chaired the plenary session of the senior officials meeting. Senior officials from the public service sector of ASEAN member states attended the 22nd ACCSM meeting. Meanwhile, the 7th ACCSM+3 SOM meeting was attended by senior officials from the public service sector of ASEAN+3 countries.
Delegates from Timor-Leste attended as observers. Discussions included the progress of the ASEAN network of public service training institutes (PSTIs) and the handover of convenorship from Vietnam to Brunei for the 2024-2026 term.
The meeting took note of the outcomes of a workshop conducted by Brunei with ASEAN member states in June 2024 on ‘Strengthening Government Strategies on Mental Health and Well-Being Towards Achieving Work-Life Balance (WLB) in the Public Sector’.
One of the outcomes was the drafting of the ASEAN statement on strengthening government strategies on mental health and well-being towards achieving work-life balance (WLB) in the public sector, which will be further deliberated during the heads of civil service meeting.
During the meeting, Cambodia, as the incoming chair of the 23rd ACCSM for the 2024-2026 term, presented the theme and planned activities planned for its upcoming chairmanship.
The meetings were organised in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office, the public service department, the management services department, and the civil service institute.
The meetings will conclude with the heads of civil service meeting ACCSM tomorrow.
