Filenews 1 May 2025 - by Eleftheria Paizanou
Special training programs will be required to be attended by employees of the state machine in order to consolidate and better implement the new Guide of Conduct and Ethics, which was approved by the Council of Ministers.
This is the well-known "bible" which will be a useful tool for public sector workers as it will contribute to better serving citizens but also to strengthening productivity, the rule of law and the principles of accountability, transparency, meritocracy and public interest.
It will also contribute to the fuller information of civil servants regarding the framework of the rules of professional conduct and their obligations at work.
The new "bible" has already been forwarded to the heads of government departments and will soon be given to employees, both permanent and employees of indefinite duration, while each service will be posted on its website, so that they can become fully familiar and apply it daily during the exercise of their duties.
Citizens will also have direct and electronic access to the new Guide of Conduct and Ethics for transparency purposes.
At the same time, the Department of Public Administration and Personnel (DIRP) calls on the competent authorities to remind employees on a regular basis to refer to the Guide, in order to apply it as efficiently as possible.
According to the TRIP, the Cyprus Academy of Public Administration will organise special training programmes in the coming weeks, for the better and more effective consolidation and implementation of the new Guide.
What the circular says
As stated in the circular signed by the Director of the TRDP, Elena Economidou-Azina, the ultimate goal is to enhance the knowledge of employees with the provisions of the Conduct and Ethics Guide, especially with regard to the legislative developments that have taken place in recent years on issues of prevention, detection and treatment of conflicts of interest and corruption in the public administration.
Fundamentals
The new "bible" describes, in a simple and understandable way, the responsibilities and obligations of civil servants, the general principles governing their action and their expected behaviour in the exercise of their duties.
According to the circular, the standards of conduct and principles of actions of public servants are included in three chapters.
In particular, the fundamental principles that have been established and define the legal limits of action of the public administration and that must be applied to guide civil servants in the performance of their duties when handling citizens' affairs.
Among others, they concern legality, the service of the public interest, user administration, equal treatment and non-discrimination, and transparency.
The second chapter deals with the standards of professional conduct of civil servants in the performance of their duties and in the service of the public aimed at promoting the prestige and credibility of the public service.
As stated in the new guide, the work behaviours and values that civil servants should apply concern proper work planning and organization, efficiency and effectiveness in the execution of work, initiative, consistency, responsibility and systematics, good professional relations, communication and cooperation, professionalism, decency, confidentiality and confidentiality.
Finally, the third chapter concerns the standards for safeguarding the integrity of public servants for the purposes of protecting the prestige and credibility of the State.
The standards relate to impartiality, objectivity, avoidance of conflict of interest, fight against corruption, incompatibility, civil rights, private employment and participation in companies.
Those who do not apply the Guide will be subject to disciplinary action
The Department of Public Administration and Personnel clarifies in the circular that those government employees who do not comply with the new Guide of Conduct and Ethics, and do not properly exercise their duties, will be subject to disciplinary proceedings.
"In the event that a public servant or employee acts or omits something in a manner that amounts to a breach of any of his duties or obligations imposed on him by virtue of the Public Service Law or any other law or by virtue of the provisions of any or by virtue of any administrative act issued pursuant thereto, he shall be subject to disciplinary proceedings" is added to the circular.
