Greece’s Minister for the Interior has foreshadowed “drastic reforms” in the public sector to improve efficiency, promote meritocracy, root out corruption and, ultimately, serve the public more effectively.
Makis Voridis (pictured) said chief among these initiatives was the provision of incentives to Public Servants in posts with a large and taxing workload.
“These incentives will include not just monetary benefits, but also more leave and a swifter rise up the pay scale,” Mr Voridis said.
He said the aim of the reward system was to turn the public sector into an attractive workplace for people with qualifications and ambitions.
“The reward mechanism will also help to instil a culture of meritocracy in public administration,” Mr Voridis said, noting that the current culture was one that equated everyone regardless of merit.
“Other initiatives include changes to the staff selection process via the new State hiring agency so as to ensure the right person is in the right position,” the Minister said.
He also said a Bill, scheduled to be put to a vote in Parliament by the end of February, aimed at reforming the system of internal audits to prevent corruption by nipping it in the bud.
“An internal audit body will check at all times whether the correct internal procedures are being observed and will intervene where necessary to rectify any irregularities,” Mr Voridis said.
“Finally, there will be an evaluation mechanism, based on international work standards, so that the Civil Service operates as a modern company,” he said.
Athens, 6 February 2021
