A civil service commission (also known as a Public Service Commission) is a government agency or public body that is established by the constitution, or by the legislature, to regulate the employment and working conditions of civil servants, oversee hiring and promotions, and promote the values of the public service.
Its role is roughly analogous to that of the human resources department in corporations.
In Fiji for example, the PSC reviews government statutory powers to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in meeting public sector management objectives.
It also acts as the human relations department, or central personnel authority, for the citizens' interactions with the government.
The origin of the public service commission in many jurisdictions was the White Paper Colonial 197 issued in 1950, which set out measures which were proposed to improve the quality and efficiency of the Colonial Service of the British administration.