SNP minister admits it will ‘take some time’ to redeploy ‘ghost workers’ who have no formal role

Scottish Government minister Shirley-Anne Somerville said it can take time to redeploy public sector workers whose posts have been abolished. She said public bodies should find them permanent roles, with training where needed, under the SNP’s policy against compulsory redundancies.

The article reports that around 800 workers across government, the NHS, councils and public bodies have no fixed role, at a known annual salary cost of at least £27 million. At least 255 have been without a fixed job for over a year, and 49 for five years or more; one NHS Highland worker was paid for 17 years without a specific role. The Scottish Conservatives estimate £27.6 million is spent annually, including £21.8 million funded by the Scottish Government, and argue the policy should change.