As part of the first stage of optimisation, the Cabinet of Ministers plans to abolish more than 4,000 vacant posts in central executive bodies. This was announced by Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi on 6 October. The decision does not mean that this number of current civil servants will be made redundant; the final structure and staffing levels of the bodies will be determined following a functional review.
Briefly about the main points
- The first stage concerns job vacancies, not mass redundancies.
- There are plans to reduce the number of deputy ministers by about a fifth.
- For other central government bodies, there are plans to reduce the number of deputy heads by almost 18%.
- The diagnostic assessment should identify the essential and redundant functions of the organs.
- The government has announced work placements for young people and a separate programme for veterans.
The first stage will cover vacant posts
According to premiere, the elimination of posts forms part of the process of optimising and improving the efficiency of the civil service. The government has not yet published a list of the ministries and departments that will be affected by the decision.
This decision does not mean that more than 4,000 current civil servants will be made redundant, as it specifically concerns vacant posts.
The number of deputies and the structure of the bodies will be reviewed following an assessment
The number of deputy ministers is to be determined on the basis of the actual workload of each specific ministry. According to the preliminary plan, there will be approximately 20% fewer of them, whilst the number of deputy heads of other central executive bodies will be reduced by almost 18%.
A functional review should establish which of the state bodies’ responsibilities remain necessary, where there may be an overlap of powers, and what the final number of staff should be. Following this, the Cabinet of Ministers should determine the final structure of the bodies.
At the same time, the government plans to revamp training for civil servants by linking it to their job responsibilities, to launch information programmes and work placements for young people, as well as a separate programme for veterans. The Council on Public Administration, comprising representatives from the government, parliament and the expert community, has resumed its work: at its meeting, a plan for reforms was presented and those responsible for each area were appointed.
