Public sector reform bill on its way to Parliament

A bill introducing a new evaluation scheme for civil servants, as well as other public sector reforms, is due to be submitted to Parliament this week, possibly even Monday.

Apart from the new form of assessment, which will involve staff evaluating their superiors as well as the other way around, the draft law also sets out a new method for the appointment of high-ranking civil servants, particularly general secretaries.

According to the new method, a special selection council will draw up a shortlist of five candidates, which will then be given to the relevant minister for final approval. Despite opposition from some government officials, Alternate Minister for Administrative Reform Christoforos Vernardakis has managed to ensure that the candidates will only be drawn from a register of high-ranking civil servants.