Audit Office Act [Chapter 22:18] (No. 12 of 2009) Commission may think necessary to ensure that the Department is able to discharge its functions. 19 Persons under contract (1) The Commission may engage persons under contract, on such conditions as may be fixed or prescribed by the Commission: Provided that, if the effect of any such conditions would be to increase the fixed salary or salary scale applicable to any post or grade, the Commission shall obtain the prior concurrence of the Minister responsible for finance. (2) There may be incorporated in the conditions referred to in subsection (1) such provisions of any enactment relating to conditions of service of members of the Audit Office as may be considered necessary or desirable in the light of the nature of the contract. (3) Upon the termination of a contract entered into in terms of subsection (1), the person under contract shall cease to be a member of the Audit Office, unless the contract is renewed or he or she is appointed as a member of the Audit Office or under a different contract. 20 Probationary period (1) A member of the Audit Office appointed otherwise than under contract shall serve a probationary period of not less than six months and not more than one year, as the Commission may prescribe or fix in relation to that member. (2) The appointment of a member under subsection (1) shall be confirmed at the end of the probationary period unless, at any time during the probationary period, the Commission considers that the member does not meet the required standard of performance, in which case the Commission may— (a) discharge the member; or (b) extend the probationary period by not more than six months, at the end of which period the member shall be discharged if he or she fails to meet the required standard of performance. 21 Conditions of service of members of Audit Office (1) Subject to the Constitution and any other enactment, the conditions of service applicable to members of the Audit Office, including their remuneration, benefits, leave of absence, hours of work and discipline, shall be fixed by the Commission: Provided that, to the extent that such conditions may result in an increase in expenditure chargeable on the Consolidated Revenue Fund, the prior concurrence of the Minister responsible for finance shall be obtained. (2) Conditions of service may be fixed in terms of subsection (1) by means of service regulations, notices, circulars or in any other manner that the Commission considers will best bring the conditions to the attention of members of the Audit Office who are affected by them: Provided that, in the event of any conflict between the service regulations and the contents of any such notice or circular, the service regulations shall prevail to the extent of the conflict. (3) Subject to Schedule 6 to the Constitution, the Commission may in terms of subsection (1) alter the conditions of service of existing members of the Audit Office: Provided that no member’s fixed salary or salary scale shall be reduced except when the member has been found guilty of misconduct or has consented to the reduction. (4) Without derogating from the generality of subsection (1), conditions of service fixed in terms of that subsection may provide for— (a) the abolition of the office or post of any member of the Audit Office, whether individually or as a consequence of a reduction in the staff establishment of the Office, if the abolition will help improve the economy or efficiency of the Office; - 12 -