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Public sector streamlining on way

Minister asks for all public servants’ details so government can prepare for transfers as part of the efficiency drive

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28 Dec 2010

The process that will see up to 50,000 civil servants transferred to different departments as part of a wider effort to make the public sector more efficient was set into motion on Monday by Interior Minister Yiannis Ragousis.

The government has made no secret of its desire to overhaul the wider public service, which includes schools, hospitals and the public transport system.

In fact, it has come under pressure from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund to do so as excessive amounts of money are being wasted in the public sector, which needs to be slashed if Greece is to reach its deficit targets.

Ragousis sent a circular to all government departments on Monday, asking that each ministry take stock of the personnel under its auspices, make a list of their skills, find out how many have been transferred to other jobs and identify any positions that have not been filled and those that are oversubscribed.

A census of state employees – the first of its kind in Greece – was completed in July, when public servants were asked to enter their details online or face having their wages stopped.

Just over 768,000 bureaucrats took part in the process. Greek public servants represent 17.5 per cent of the overall working population, that is 4.4 million people.

From the analysis of the data submitted by the bureaucrats, it emerged that 54 per cent were men and one-third are aged between 40 and 50.

Almost 40 percent have a university education and 28 per cent have only finished high school.

However, Ragousis is hoping that his latest effort to glean more information about the personnel that the state employs will help the government in its bid to make the public sector more efficient.

This scheme will begin with the transfer of 25,000 to 50,000 public servants from positions where they are not required to other areas where there are shortages.

The minister has asked for the information to be collected and sent to him by February 10, so the government can draw up its plans for transferring staff and overhauling the public sector.

The article in full appears first in Kathimerini December 28

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When we were recently over in Ellada I could not believe my ears. Over 17% of the workforce are public servants. No wonder there is such an economic crisis. For years every MP has put their family, their neighbours, their koumbari into jobs even where there weren't any so they could maintain political rivilege. We saw the result as we visited almost every museum and historical site there was, and I got the blisters on my feet to prove it. There were far too many Ministry of Culture staff and far too few who were of any use to tourists. Do not touch. Do not photo. Do not talk were the comments we tended to hear wheras they were reading novels, talking on their mobiles, talking to each other or outside creating fumes. GIven that 40% are university graduates, what about learning more about what you are 'guarding' and talk to tourists. Tell them stories or intriguing historical facts. Dress us as Ancient Greek athletes, philosophers, warriors... and add some real colour plus many more opportunities to engage and thus attract tourism But the staff we saw were pretty much all useless, so the planned shake up must be a good thing so long as a performance review system is included. However, will the politicians go that far even though it makes perfect sense? I wonder.
Submitted by atkenos on Wed, 2010-12-29 15:49.

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