The Finance Ministry has instructed all government institutions to refrain from recruiting minor staff members without approval from the Treasury.

The decision has been made to prevent "political appointments" under the new government that could increase the burden on the Finance Ministry.

With this new development, ministers will be barred from recruiting their supporters as labourers, minor staff members, office assistants and watchers at government institutions.

When there is a genuine service requirement, the heads of those institutions have been instructed to seek approval from the Treasury. This will also prevent politicians from distributing government sector jobs only among people from their electorates.

Increasing the profitability of the public sector remains a key priority for the newly-elected government, a top government spokesman said.