The Government-wide hiring freeze has been extended through the 2016-17 fiscal year, the Ministry of Finance has announced.

The One Bermuda Alliance will also revisit an early retirement programme for civil servants aged 55 and older, as part of cost-cutting measures.

Bob Richards, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, said that the move to continue the 2015-16 freeze into next year would help Government with its long-term goal of wiping out the annual deficit.

“We must employ the most effective means possible to reduce spending, as we seek to get our fiscal house in order,” Mr Richards said.

“The path towards that goal means assessing old and new methods every year to rebalance spending, relative to revenue.

“Today, we need to find ways to hold the line on hiring as much as is possible and we are asking all departments to keep this in mind.”

The Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Programme will also be reinstituted, increasing the number of employees who are eligible for retirement by lowering the necessary age and service requirements.

This is intended to streamline transitional changes, as well as saving money by freezing the vacated positions for two years.