Public Service Commission uncertain on exam numbers under proposed civil service hiring reforms
The Public Service Commission (PSC) has expressed uncertainty over the number of exams that will be conducted under a proposed new civil service hiring system. The reforms aim to streamline recruitment by holding the general written exam only after vacancies are published, allowing applicants to know if they qualify before sitting the test. PSC head Georgios Papageorgiou explained that unlike the current system, which holds three general exams annually based on pay scale categories, the new system would bundle vacancies by required qualifications and set exam criteria accordingly.
Concerns were raised during discussions in the House finance committee about the potential for excessive exams, such as the need for lawyers to take multiple tests depending on the hiring department. Currently, the Education Ministry oversees most exams, but the proposed system may necessitate more examiners from private universities or audit firms due to a potentially larger number of specialized exams. The reforms also mandate annual vacancy publication in February, with application deadlines by mid-March and applicants ranking their job preferences.
Officials noted that under the current system many positions remain unfilled due to low applicant turnout and success rates in exams ranging from 20 to 25 percent. The total civil service currently employs 22,978 individuals within the broader state sector of 53,700 employees. The House finance committee will continue deliberations on the bill.
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