The performance of only three out of 12,308 employees in the public sector has been evaluated as ‘not satisfactory’,with the overwhelming majority — 93,14% — deemed ‘excellent’.
The Public Service Commission has repeatedly called for the introduction of a new evaluation system. As it has been pointed out, the current system greatly affects the process of promotions, since it makes seniority the determining factor for them. The Public Service Commission believes that the current system does not provide the proper incentives to public servants and that new regulations in the public service should be introduced, creating conditions where staff will be rewarded based on their performance As stated in the Commission’s latest report, employment schemes contain anachronistic, vague and general provisions, leading to problems in their interpretation and application.
The issue of the evaluation of civil servants was included in the legislative package on public service reform, which was rejected by the majority of the political parties.
Meanwhile, the public service continues to grow despite the large number of retirements and the hiring ‘freezes’ during the memorandum years. From 2013 until today, the Government has opened more than 3000 posts. Specifically, in 2013, 19 positions were opened, in 2014 126, in 2015 426, while in 2016, when the country exited the economic adjustment programme, the number rose to 485 posts. In addition, in 2017, another 943 positions were opened, while another 740 positions of first appointment were opened. These positions cost the state 24.2 million each year.
18 disciplinary cases were initiated by the Public Service Commission within the last four years. Last year an employee was dismissed and another was forced to retire. Another employee was downgraded on the pay scale and another one was severely reprimanded. In the last few years, 37 employees have been laid off.
