Filenews 21 June 2021 - by Theano Thiopoulou
The vast majority of civil servants are women and their presence in the upper echelons of the public service is about the same as that of men. Data contained in the Public Service Commission's 2020 annual report outline the profile of civil servants who are mainly university-educated.
At the end of the year under review, 11,965 civil servants were on a permanent basis. 64.1% held university qualifications (degree or postgraduate degree), while the corresponding proportion of places for which university qualification is required was only 30%.
As regards the distribution of posts between men and women in the public service, the proportion of women is significantly increased in admission posts (66.97% in non-scientific posts and 64.99% in scientific posts). Women continue to be presented with a slightly increased rate compared to men in mid-management (C. A15-A16, in which 97 men and 110 women serve) and managerial positions. The slightly increased proportion of women in managerial positions is mainly due to the upgrading of the salary scales of the positions of the Legal Service of the Republic, which are largely held by women.
Legislated positions
In 2020, state budget-legislated posts in the public service amounted to 15,584 compared to 2019, which was 15,679.Of the 15,584 legislated posts, at 31.12.2020, 11,965 posts were occupied, 4,182 were occupied by men (35%) and 7,783 by women (65%).
Transfers
During 2020, pursuant to the provisions of Article 47 of the Public Service Laws, following recommendations from the competent authorities or the Minister of Finance, 352 secondments were decided, compared with 220 secondments made during 2019. Also, in 2020, the secondment of 70 employees was terminated. Transfers of officials shall be decided by the Commission, in accordance with Article 48 of the Public Service Laws, on a duly substantiated proposal from the competent authority. Before the Public Service Commission takes any decision to transfer a civil servant, it shall examine the official, personal and family circumstances of both the official proposed for transfer and the other officials' peers, in order to ensure that the transfer is in the public interest and that the principles of equal treatment are applied. In 2020, the Commission, on proposals from the competent authorities, made 127 transfers, compared with 109 transfers made in 2019.
Deservices
Article 53 of the Public Service Laws provides that the Commission has the power to decide on the retirement of civil servants. During 2020, 452 civil servants left by Commission decisions, compared with 347 who had left in 2019. The increase in the number of civil servants' departures in 2020 is mainly due to the increased number of voluntary early departures, where from 96 in 2018 and 153 in 2019 the number of early departures reached 231 in 2020. This increase is mainly due to the implementation of the early retirement incentive scheme for pensionable employees, which entered into force with the pension benefits of state and public sector employees, including local authorities.
During 2020, 452 civil servants left by Commission decisions, compared with 347 who had left in 2019. The number of civil servants was 194 for an age limit, 231 voluntary early retirement, 15 for health reasons, 12 for retirement under Article 53 (1) (f).
Resignations
According to Article 52 of the Public Service Laws, the resignation of civil servants from their posts is permissible only with the permission of the Commission. According to the same article, an official who resigns from his post without the prior authorisation of the Commission shall be considered to be out of duty without authorisation and shall be subject to disciplinary proceedings. During 2020, the Commission allowed 16 employees to resign from the public service, compared to 8 employees who had resigned with the Commission's permission in 2019.
examination
Following the termination of the provisional provisions in force until 2018, separate examinations for non-scientific and scientific positions have been carried out in October and November 2020, the results of which will apply to posts to be published in 2021. The written examination for non-scientific posts was followed by 3,363 candidates, of whom 1,117 were successful, i.e. 33.2%, while 4,676 candidates were present in the written examination for scientific positions, of which 1,017 were successful, i.e. 21.8%.
