Ministry of Justice proposes cutting more than 100 jobs

Thursday, 6 June 2024

The Ministry of Justice has told staff it is proposing to cut 123 jobs. Overall, 178 would be disestablished, of which 67 are vacant, and another 55 would be created.

The proposal includes disestablishing four frontline administrative roles. Three of those are vacant.

That would mean an 11% reduction in the workforce.

Secretary for Justice Andrew Kibblewhite said since November, “there has been a gradual reduction of 139 full-time equivalent roles, through actively managing vacancies”.

The Post has asked the ministry if the 178 roles proposed to be disestablished today are on top of the 139 since November.

Kibblewhite said while cost savings has been necessary, it has been “a difficult and uncertain time for staff across the ministry and wider public service”.

He said the reduction was “almost exclusively involving staff carrying out National Office functions”.

That includes corporate services, policy, legal and strategy functions and operational support.