Changes in pipeline to address staff shortages in Czech civil service

A law to pave the way for a more efficient and professional Czech civil service came into effect at the start of 2015 after years of foot dragging by the state and final warnings from the European Commission in Brussels. Although much of the new package focused on recruitment, that’s exactly where the new framework seems to be failing with changes to the system now being prepared.

Photo: Filip Jandourek

A brave new world of civil servants appointed on merit and with a clear career structure ahead of them was the target of the much delayed Czech civil service law that finally took effect in 2015. No longer would top posts be handed out as favours by the politicians in power. That was the theory, but the practice over the last year and a half has not quite lived up to the hopes.

Recruitment procedures are now regarded as often over complicated and drawn out, with the selection process taking up to three months in some cases. And there’s a more basic problem, the starting pay is just the basic wage for the first six months in a new post taking no account of what experience the applicant has even though it might be 20 years or more.

The result is not surprising, there are gaping holes in the ranks at many ministries and state bodies especially where pay in the public sector compares extremely poorly with that offered by private firms. That is, for instance, particularly the case of the Ministry of Justice as minister Robert Pelikán described to Czech Television:

“In our ministry, I am just looking for the precise figure, it is 50 lawyers and 21 information technology specialists.”

Robert Pelikán, photo: Prokop Havel

Selection procedures at that ministry this year have so far filled just 39 positions according to the public service broadcaster.

Similar examples can be cited at the Ministry of Defense where there are 68 vacancies, around 40 at the Ministry of Transport, 30 at the Ministry of Agriculture, and 32 at the Ministry for Regional Development.

The proposals to address the problem includes face to face interviews for just those who pass the initial written tests and only demanding some of the backup paperwork at the end of the process rather than at the beginning. And where repeatedly no-one can be found to fill vacancies an incentive of up to 100,000 crowns could be found to supplement the reduced starting wages.

The proposed moves to address the recruitment problems appear to have across the board backing from government parties and the main opposition as well.

The top official in charge of the Czech civil service, Josef Postránecký, says other changes could be in the pipeline such a more generous time and allowances for those who are seeking extra qualifications and more leeway for Czech officials who are seeking to gain further experience with international organisations.