Civil servants need payroll system kept
Worrisome
Civil servants are raising alarm over the Ministry of Finance’s plan to cancel the Payroll Deduction Management System (PDMS) by 30 November 2025, fearing the move could plunge many into financial distress.A nationwide online survey conducted by Fin Fit Investment and Avril Payment Solutions sought to explore government employees’ perceptions, satisfaction levels and expectations regarding the PDMS and its discontinuation, as well as to gain insights into employees’ financial behaviour, capability and debt management patterns.
Nearly three-quarters (72%) of respondents agreed that the PDMS helps them avoid taking on more debt than they can manage, highlighting the system’s perceived protective function. Among the 14% who disagreed, most cited unaffordable loan approvals, inadequate credit checks or having to borrow further from informal sources.
The survey found that payroll deductions are dominated by personal loans (79.5%), followed by insurance policies (64.9%) and union or association fees (33.6%), reflecting both the scale of formal credit use and the system’s integration into employees’ financial habits. “Around 70% of respondents reported that payroll deductions make it easier to manage monthly finances. Many attributed this to predictability and automatic discipline, though some felt the system limited their control,” Fin Fit said.
Participants expressed concern that removing the PDMS would hinder their ability to keep up with payments and restrict access to loan options. “Most employees expect negative consequences if the system ends: 83% foresee greater difficulty keeping up with payments, 70% believe access to loans will worsen, and 71% fear that debit-order fees will make payments too costly. Only about 15% believe their situation will improve,” Fin Fit added.
Responsiveness
When asked how they would respond under debit orders, 43% said they were likely to continue paying their loans, while 31% said they were unlikely to do so. For insurance, 57% would maintain all policies, 35% would cancel some, and 8% would cancel all, citing debit-order costs as the main reason.
A majority (64.5%) rated the PDMS as “good” or “very good” for them personally, confirming broad appreciation for its role in financial stability. Only 15% rated it negatively, while 20% were neutral. Importantly, 79% of respondents favoured continuing the PDMS, either as it stands or with improvements, while only 21% supported complete cancellation.
Fin Fit noted that the PDMS ensures employees meet their financial obligations, but acknowledged its rigidities. “For many, the PDMS represents reliability, discipline, and peace of mind, particularly where informal and high-cost credit options are common. For others, it symbolises rigidity, administrative delay and limited personal control.”
The survey was conducted online via SurveyMonkey in September 2025 and distributed primarily through Facebook. Of 1 532 submissions, 1 125 were confirmed government employees; after data cleaning and validation, 657 fully completed responses were retained for analysis. The survey covered awareness, perceptions, satisfaction and behavioural questions across 23 items.