My presence for one more year at the annual General Assembly of PASYDY is the minimum sign of appreciation and respect that the State has for both the leadership of the Organization and the entire civil servants.
It is not only my presence, but the Government is also present. And this is an additional element of the appreciation and respect we have for the services you have rendered in the formation of the State, in the service of the people.
It constitutes recognition of your contribution to the formation of the State, your influential action before, during and after the Turkish invasion of 1974, your contribution during the pre-accession period and the sacrifices you underwent together with the entire people during the recovery from the economic crisis of 2012-2013.
It constitutes recognition of your contribution to the formation of the State, your influential action before, during and after the Turkish invasion of 1974, your contribution during the pre-accession period and the sacrifices you underwent together with the entire people during the recovery from the economic crisis of 2012-2013.
Moreover, I am not unaware of the high sense of responsibility you demonstrated during the trials and tribulations caused by the pandemic, maintaining the proper functioning of the public sector, despite any problems that inevitably arose.
What I have mentioned demonstrates that the Public Service, despite the given shortcomings and weaknesses, has always been worthy of the expectations of the State, society and citizens.
And I have referred to shortcomings and deficiencies, as a system of public administration based on the attitudes, practices, facts and anchors of the past decades, it is to be expected that it is unable to respond adequately to the justified demands of citizens and the challenges of the rapidly changing, modern era.
It is for this reason that upon assuming power we set as one of the most important objectives the reform and transformation of the Civil Service into a more flexible, more efficient and more effective mechanism.
A mechanism that will modernize the mechanisms of operation of the civil service, utilize modern technology, evaluate and reward employees based on measurable criteria, best practices, disregarding partisanship.
It is for this reason that I warmly welcome the fact that after seven years of intense opposition and unnecessary debates, it was possible to pass a series of bills which, despite the changes in the initial proposals, significantly improve the operating regime of the state apparatus.
Ø A reform which the leadership of PASYDY supported for this and I warmly thank you for your constructive attitude of responsibility, sharing the consequent benefits resulting from:
Ø The introduction of a new modern evaluation framework for filling positions in the Civil Service, with the ultimate aim of ensuring the selection of the most suitable candidates on the basis of measurable and objective criteria.
Ø The introduction of a new performance appraisal system for officials, based on relevant criteria and an analytical framework of competencies and skills, so that the most competent or capable are promoted;
Ø The application by the Civil Service Commission of safeguards in all its procedures to ensure full compliance with the legal framework and principles governing the selection of candidates for either recruitment or promotion.
With these bills, not only is the administrative capacity of the Civil Service strengthened, but, most importantly, the motivation of employees to contribute and serve the country is enhanced, as they will feel that knowledge, professionalism, hard and diligent work and service are assured.
The Civil Service Reform is part of a broader strategy and philosophy of the Government to create a modern state that will provide quality services that serve the economy, but also meet the increased demands of today's civil society.
It is in this context that we have proceeded with a number of other important reforms and structural changes to the structures of the state. And I note this because the reason for a constitutional amendment is to prevent the establishment mentality that is created if there is an unlimited number of terms for someone who may seek election. Based on this suggestion, this constitutional change may be my last attendance at a PASYDY conference in my capacity as President.
Ø The creation of Deputy Ministries in the key sectors of Tourism, Shipping, Social Welfare, Research and Innovation and Culture.
Ø The creation of new General Directorates in Ministries and the consolidation of overlapping services in various Ministries with the establishment of a single Directorate in the Ministry responsible.
Ø In order to combat bureaucracy, we are proceeding with the digitisation of the various services of the State with the aim of full e-government by 2027.
Ø In order to combat bureaucracy, we are proceeding with the digitisation of the various services of the State with the aim of full e-government by 2027.
Ø The reform of Local Government, making local entities administratively and financially autonomous, enhancing their capacity and ability to improve and expand the services provided, relieving the Civil Service of tasks that are transferred to others.
Ø The modernisation of the system of appointment of teachers.
Ø The establishment of new courts and the tabling of a number of bills relating not only to the flexibility, efficiency and speed of the administration of justice, but also to the fight against corruption, with the recent establishment, inter alia, of the Independent Authority against Corruption.
Ø The implementation of the General Health System, which for decades has been the subject of studies and without content of commitment.
I would like to take this opportunity to clarify something. Because a lot is being said or others are saying it, I will not be and will not allow myself to turn into a patricide. The GHS system is here to stay. It came because the state owed it to the citizens, it came because we have to serve every citizen with quality medical services and I want to believe that, compared to other systems that have been in place for decades, it is one of the most special, one of the most properly functioning systems, without ignoring what has been pointed out and highlighted. They have been pointed out by the Auditor General, they have been pointed out by others. That is, a tendency by some to abuse. And it's not in the only system where there are abuses. Unfortunately, it's in many others. But in cooperation with the political forces, in cooperation with all the partners who undertook the implementation, but also with all the contributing citizens, we will take those measures to end the distortions, to make it as far as possible, not only sustainable, but to provide the best possible medical services to the world. In addition to what I have indicated and seeking for Cyprus to emerge stronger from the unprecedented pandemic crisis - and again I express my grateful thanks to the health workers, those on the front line who have contributed to the response to the crisis - we have developed the National Plan 'Cyprus - Tomorrow', which includes 58 critical and necessary reforms and 76 value-added investment actions that constitute the largest reform and development intervention since its inception. Because an improved, modern state is not only about the present Government, but about the legacy we will leave to our children and future generations.
As a result of these sacrifices, but also of the sound fiscal policy consistently followed by the Government, we have been able to gradually restore your rights, whether they relate to the ATA, to increments, to the de-icing of recruitment and promotions in the public sector, or even to the complete abolition of the special levy on salaries from January 2023.
A restoration of rights that is fully intertwined with the State's unlimited and enduring respect for civil servants and the need for full restoration of the benefits accruing through service plans.
I realize there are demands and it is with great satisfaction that I heard with how responsibly the President of the PASYDY spoke for us, they are at least benefits that have no cost, because we recognize the difficulties that the State is going through, either as a result of the pandemic or unfortunately as a result of a devastating war that we are witnessing and no doubt affects all states, not only European, but worldwide.
That is why I want to assure you that, not disregarding and where the finances of the State or particularly the legal conditions allow us - because I heard about the indefinite term and of course the simplest is an administrative act because the benefits other than promotions are the same as for permanent members of the Civil Service. The problem is that the procedures under the Civil Service Act were not followed in order to recruit them, so that any legislative act that could turn the permanent members into permanent members ran the risk of being unconstitutional, as has happened in the past with some exceptional recruitment of special categories.
Of course, we will see how through legislation a way of gradually making permanent permanent permanent permanent employees can be achieved.
The Government's decision to introduce a new Occupational Pension Benefit Restoration Scheme, which was the result of a creative collaboration with PASYDY, was part of the Government's benefits restoration process. All that remains is the legislative drafting of the Bill to be sent to Parliament, which I am sure will adopt it.
I have no doubt that the excellent cooperation - that we have developed over the years will continue, as what unites us is to continue on the path of development and the effort to transform our country into a state that will make us all proud.
What I ask of those who serve the public sector, and especially those officials who deal with the day-to-day problems of citizens, is that they give taxpayers the respect they deserve.
It is with regret that I refer to the exceptions, but I do so with full conscience, because I do not accept and will not tolerate that the prestige and dignity of the majority should be damaged by the actions of a tiny minority of the unimportant or corrupt.
I want the prestige and dignity of the vast majority to be protected from the actions or omissions of a tiny minority.
I believe that my report was necessary and cannot in the least disregard the many important contributions of the vast majority of public servants who serve the state.
That is why I want to assure you that we will continue to work closely and creatively as long as I am in office - someone else will succeed me and who certainly cannot ignore either your contribution or the need for cooperation between us - in order to create the conditions that will increasingly allow cooperation to be smooth, increasingly for the State to be synchronised, identified and harmonised with what a European country must do.
(PM/MG/SX)
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