WEBVTT 00:00:03.535 --> 00:00:06.188 Hello. Here to present the conclusions 00:00:06.309 --> 00:00:10.115 of the 142nd government meeting is Deputy Prime Minister 00:00:10.288 --> 00:00:14.415 Matej Arčon, who will later be joined by the State Secretary. 00:00:14.536 --> 00:00:18.968 Thank you. Today, the government approved a new bill 00:00:19.102 --> 00:00:21.528 regarding civil servants. 00:00:21.642 --> 00:00:25.135 It will introduce a central, digitalized system 00:00:25.295 --> 00:00:26.935 for open competitions. 00:00:27.069 --> 00:00:32.452 Each year, about 100 different bodies 00:00:32.615 --> 00:00:36.315 organize around 1000 open competitions. 00:00:36.422 --> 00:00:39.421 The centralization introduced by the new law 00:00:39.529 --> 00:00:43.407 will expedite the processes, and make them more efficient 00:00:43.528 --> 00:00:48.295 and transparent because they will be concentrated in one place. 00:00:48.428 --> 00:00:50.988 The government's goal is for competence 00:00:51.109 --> 00:00:54.735 to be the sole criterion for public sector employment. 00:00:54.935 --> 00:00:58.468 This is the only way to improve public administration 00:00:58.602 --> 00:01:02.328 and make it more efficient, so that it provides 00:01:02.449 --> 00:01:04.968 better services to our citizens. 00:01:05.122 --> 00:01:09.095 Today, the government also approved its bill on officials. 00:01:09.222 --> 00:01:13.188 The previous legislation was very outdated. 00:01:13.302 --> 00:01:18.015 The field was governed by regulation dating back to 1990. 00:01:18.122 --> 00:01:22.802 The new bill defines the rights and responsibilities of officials. 00:01:22.955 --> 00:01:26.815 It also defines the period after the ending of a function 00:01:26.975 --> 00:01:31.122 and allows officials to return to their previous job, 00:01:31.269 --> 00:01:35.535 if it had been frozen, within 30 days. 00:01:35.695 --> 00:01:39.935 Otherwise, the bill doesn't introduce any new benefits 00:01:40.102 --> 00:01:47.948 or rights. You'll hear more about these bills later 00:01:48.115 --> 00:01:52.995 from State Secretary Mojca Ramšak. 00:01:53.262 --> 00:01:56.461 As for pensions, 00:01:56.615 --> 00:02:01.141 the government is satisfied 00:02:01.295 --> 00:02:05.001 about the 4.5-percent realignment of pensions. 00:02:05.108 --> 00:02:09.055 The average monthly pension in Slovenia today 00:02:09.208 --> 00:02:12.761 is almost 15% higher than it was at the beginning 00:02:12.882 --> 00:02:14.821 of this government's term. 00:02:14.969 --> 00:02:19.402 Last year, we carried out a record realignment 00:02:19.629 --> 00:02:23.248 of pensions, in the amount of 8.8 percent. 00:02:23.409 --> 00:02:27.308 This year's 4.5-percent realignment is still 00:02:27.428 --> 00:02:30.308 one of the highest in recent years. 00:02:30.428 --> 00:02:34.428 These aren't one-time increases used by the government 00:02:34.549 --> 00:02:37.842 to buy votes. They are permanent increases 00:02:37.963 --> 00:02:41.081 that retirees will see on their bank accounts 00:02:41.242 --> 00:02:45.028 for years to come. Yesterday, we saw 00:02:45.182 --> 00:02:48.488 one of the most glaring examples of manipulation 00:02:48.622 --> 00:02:52.595 and exploitation of retirees, the very same people 00:02:52.742 --> 00:02:54.868 who became low-income retirees 00:02:54.989 --> 00:02:58.395 because of a decision by Janša's government in 2012. 00:02:58.495 --> 00:03:02.201 The leader of the opposition is taking part in protests 00:03:02.322 --> 00:03:04.988 and is screaming slogans at the retirees 00:03:05.109 --> 00:03:09.442 who are victims of that decision. Our government prefers to work 00:03:09.569 --> 00:03:13.595 and will ensure that pensions increase every year. 00:03:15.041 --> 00:03:20.175 As for the reaction of the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 00:03:20.329 --> 00:03:27.255 I'd like to quickly respond to their arguments. 00:03:27.408 --> 00:03:30.655 The Chamber of Commerce is an important partner 00:03:30.815 --> 00:03:32.528 of this government. 00:03:32.675 --> 00:03:36.435 Our social dialog is continuous, in part through 00:03:36.556 --> 00:03:38.935 the Economic and Social Council. 00:03:39.056 --> 00:03:42.641 The dialog had been interrupted before the election 00:03:42.728 --> 00:03:45.375 of our government, so we reinstated it. 00:03:45.509 --> 00:03:49.282 We value the contribution of the Chamber of Commerce 00:03:49.408 --> 00:03:52.175 but the view of a CEO or a company owner 00:03:52.335 --> 00:03:55.282 is just one opinion. As seen by employees, 00:03:55.429 --> 00:03:59.755 retirees, students, and parents, things are different. 00:03:59.908 --> 00:04:03.415 The government has already passed measures designed 00:04:03.536 --> 00:04:06.955 to reduce the burden on wages and more are to come. 00:04:07.102 --> 00:04:11.368 We increased general rebates, adjusted additional rebates 00:04:11.522 --> 00:04:15.688 and family caregiver rebates, and introduced rebates 00:04:15.835 --> 00:04:18.388 for people below the age of 29. 00:04:18.509 --> 00:04:22.821 However, we can't endanger the stability of public finances 00:04:22.968 --> 00:04:26.688 and the basis of our social programs, 00:04:26.802 --> 00:04:30.675 such as accessible healthcare, subsidized kindergartens, 00:04:30.842 --> 00:04:34.542 and free schooling, including at the university level. 00:04:34.662 --> 00:04:37.768 Businesses are also financed from the budget. 00:04:37.875 --> 00:04:43.181 During this government's term, more than €660 million 00:04:43.355 --> 00:04:46.822 was paid out as stimulus. 00:04:46.922 --> 00:04:50.214 Corporations received €330 million as assistance 00:04:50.335 --> 00:04:55.748 during the energy crisis and €140 million as flood relief. 00:04:55.869 --> 00:05:01.535 We shouldn't forget that we're among the top five 00:05:01.655 --> 00:05:06.289 countries in terms of making use of EU funds 00:05:06.415 --> 00:05:12.781 in the previous package and are also among the top five 00:05:12.942 --> 00:05:17.481 in terms of setting aside the most public funds 00:05:17.642 --> 00:05:21.388 for investments. These measures also contribute 00:05:21.535 --> 00:05:24.795 to economic growth and development. 00:05:24.916 --> 00:05:27.688 Thank you. Questions from the press. 00:05:27.808 --> 00:05:30.208 Gašper Petovar, RTV Slovenia. 00:05:30.329 --> 00:05:34.408 I'll start out with a question about the Chamber of Commerce. 00:05:34.529 --> 00:05:38.635 Did the government discuss the letter written by Joc Pečečnik 00:05:38.756 --> 00:05:41.595 in the name of the Slovenian Business Club? 00:05:41.716 --> 00:05:43.695 No. 00:05:43.982 --> 00:05:47.728 The letter wasn't one of the topics. 00:05:47.835 --> 00:05:50.915 I quickly skimmed through it. 00:05:51.522 --> 00:05:55.915 What caught my attention and even surprised me 00:05:56.036 --> 00:05:59.329 was that Mr. Pečečnik, speaking on behalf 00:05:59.450 --> 00:06:03.261 of an association of more than 500 companies, 00:06:03.382 --> 00:06:07.614 has such a dismissive and degrading attitude 00:06:07.735 --> 00:06:11.542 toward the public sector and the public service system, 00:06:11.663 --> 00:06:14.601 which he claims is among the worst in the EU. 00:06:14.722 --> 00:06:20.455 I feel this is dismissive of all civil servants, 00:06:20.595 --> 00:06:23.980 including civil defense, firefighters, teachers, 00:06:24.101 --> 00:06:26.161 doctors, nurses, and so on. 00:06:26.282 --> 00:06:31.189 I can confidently state that Slovenia 00:06:31.355 --> 00:06:34.918 has some of the best public services in the EU 00:06:35.039 --> 00:06:38.052 and we should we proud of that. 00:06:38.173 --> 00:06:41.572 Just because he can't get a business permit, 00:06:41.693 --> 00:06:45.482 he shouldn't have that attitude toward the public sector 00:06:45.603 --> 00:06:49.102 in general. There are 190,000 of us. 00:06:49.268 --> 00:06:55.561 At the very least, these people deserve respect. 00:06:55.682 --> 00:06:58.988 I also noticed his claim 00:06:59.135 --> 00:07:03.162 that there's corruption in Slovenia. 00:07:03.295 --> 00:07:07.555 If he's aware of corruption, he's obligated to report it. 00:07:07.676 --> 00:07:11.555 I'm not sure if he did that. He's apparently aware 00:07:11.735 --> 00:07:15.408 of a lot of corruption, and I hope he has reported it. 00:07:15.587 --> 00:07:19.461 Otherwise, we've recently moved up six places 00:07:19.615 --> 00:07:22.475 on the corruption index. 00:07:22.609 --> 00:07:26.748 Of course, we'd like to see as little corruption 00:07:26.882 --> 00:07:30.828 as possible, and we should all strive toward that. 00:07:31.108 --> 00:07:35.554 Did you talk about the Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired? 00:07:35.675 --> 00:07:39.861 No. The government's position on this matter is clear, 00:07:39.982 --> 00:07:43.054 The liquidation of the company has been halted, 00:07:43.175 --> 00:07:46.580 it has a new CEO, and a rescue program 00:07:46.701 --> 00:07:51.518 is being prepared. New orders are coming in. 00:07:51.629 --> 00:07:56.486 The company will be taken care of. 00:07:56.646 --> 00:08:01.172 We don't believe that we should alter our approach because of this company. 00:08:01.332 --> 00:08:05.086 In the long term, if any issues were to arise, 00:08:05.246 --> 00:08:07.932 we would rather integrate it into a larger system 00:08:08.086 --> 00:08:10.017 of sheltered workshops. 00:08:10.138 --> 00:08:14.497 But we are glad that we successfully solved this 00:08:14.618 --> 00:08:18.852 and that the company will continue doing business. 00:08:19.412 --> 00:08:23.204 My last question concerns the collection of signatures 00:08:23.325 --> 00:08:27.113 for the referendum announced by SDS. 00:08:29.013 --> 00:08:31.159 SDS claims that this will serve 00:08:31.280 --> 00:08:34.496 as an indicator of support for the government. 00:08:34.617 --> 00:08:37.697 What is your position on this statement? 00:08:37.818 --> 00:08:41.068 How will you prepare for this referendum 00:08:41.189 --> 00:08:44.852 and what if SDS actually succeeds in initiating it? 00:08:45.335 --> 00:08:48.415 They are announcing a number of referendums, 00:08:48.536 --> 00:08:52.762 so could you please specify which referendum you mean? 00:08:52.883 --> 00:08:58.453 The one about pensions. -The pensions for artists? -Yes. 00:08:59.906 --> 00:09:02.419 I am mainly surprised. 00:09:02.676 --> 00:09:07.151 This is a party whose Minister of Culture 00:09:07.336 --> 00:09:14.730 strove to enact this law in the 1970s. 00:09:14.963 --> 00:09:18.352 The Minister of Culture at the time 00:09:18.473 --> 00:09:23.056 advocated for recipients of a lifetime achievement award 00:09:23.177 --> 00:09:25.510 to get a pension supplement, 00:09:25.932 --> 00:09:32.343 which costs the budget 60,000 euros annually. 00:09:32.464 --> 00:09:35.340 And now they are calling for a referendum 00:09:35.461 --> 00:09:37.968 that costs 4 to 5 million euros. 00:09:38.089 --> 00:09:43.702 I think that this is just another futile attempt, 00:09:43.823 --> 00:09:49.414 it is irresponsible, irrational and disrespectful to our citizens 00:09:49.535 --> 00:09:52.618 to initiate a referendum on this topic 00:09:52.739 --> 00:09:56.619 and even say that it is a pro-government referendum. 00:09:56.740 --> 00:10:01.490 It goes against the people who, through their life's work, 00:10:01.611 --> 00:10:04.663 have earned this pension supplement, 00:10:04.784 --> 00:10:09.652 which has already been covered for athletes. 00:10:10.809 --> 00:10:14.696 So, the government does not intend to prepare for it? 00:10:15.318 --> 00:10:21.590 No. We are currently focusing our efforts on development projects 00:10:21.711 --> 00:10:25.560 that we have set as a priority 00:10:25.727 --> 00:10:33.727 and we would rather not engage with this issue at all 00:10:34.357 --> 00:10:39.756 as it is not an issue that relates to all citizens. 00:10:39.877 --> 00:10:42.905 I hope that the referendum does not happen. 00:10:43.026 --> 00:10:46.632 The Minister of Culture will comment on this today. 00:10:48.681 --> 00:10:52.043 Manja Delešjava, STA. You mentioned the protest. 00:10:52.644 --> 00:10:56.007 In the past week, two protests have taken place, 00:10:56.128 --> 00:10:58.416 each with a different background. 00:10:59.211 --> 00:11:03.950 How does the government assess the demands presented by both sides? 00:11:04.071 --> 00:11:07.346 Will it issue a response? 00:11:07.467 --> 00:11:11.134 Did the government discuss this matter today? 00:11:11.255 --> 00:11:15.461 No, we did not discuss yesterday's protest. 00:11:15.582 --> 00:11:20.332 I think I presented our position clearly and exhaustively. 00:11:21.051 --> 00:11:26.585 Regarding the other protests, we do not oppose them, 00:11:26.706 --> 00:11:29.179 everyone has the right to protest. 00:11:29.347 --> 00:11:34.167 We have a clear coalition agreement and goals set for two terms. 00:11:34.365 --> 00:11:37.432 We are proceeding step by step. 00:11:39.234 --> 00:11:43.202 We have full support and a desire 00:11:43.323 --> 00:11:48.418 to realise the key projects that we have set ourselves. 00:11:48.707 --> 00:11:52.722 Many have stalled in implementing these reforms, 00:11:52.843 --> 00:11:54.843 but we remain committed. 00:11:55.232 --> 00:12:01.219 It will help us immensely to have the support of the people 00:12:01.443 --> 00:12:05.360 who trust this government to realise the reforms 00:12:05.481 --> 00:12:09.314 that some have maybe only promised in the past. 00:12:10.592 --> 00:12:13.092 A question for you, Mr. Arčon, 00:12:13.213 --> 00:12:16.880 as Secretary General of the Freedom Movement. 00:12:17.001 --> 00:12:21.472 MP Miroslav Gregorič and MP Kaloh have initiated the establishment 00:12:21.592 --> 00:12:24.957 of a parliamentary friendship group with Russia. 00:12:25.078 --> 00:12:27.066 How do you comment on this? 00:12:27.187 --> 00:12:30.634 For this matter, you should address your question 00:12:30.755 --> 00:12:35.755 to the parliamentary group that proposed the initiative, 00:12:36.065 --> 00:12:39.732 as they will provide an appropriate response. 00:12:41.132 --> 00:12:45.895 No more questions? Thank you, Deputy Prime Minister. -Thank you. 00:12:46.810 --> 00:12:50.030 We will now be joined by the State Secretary 00:12:50.151 --> 00:12:54.655 at the Ministry of Public Administration, Mojca Ramšak Pešec, 00:12:54.776 --> 00:12:59.479 who will present the two bills on public employees and officials 00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:02.060 that were adopted today. Go ahead. 00:13:04.447 --> 00:13:08.627 Thank you. Greetings. Today, the government has adopted 00:13:08.748 --> 00:13:13.081 the bill on public employees and the bill on officials. 00:13:13.538 --> 00:13:17.725 These are two systemic regulations that are addressing a field 00:13:17.853 --> 00:13:20.991 that has not been amended for quite some time. 00:13:21.112 --> 00:13:23.492 The Public Employees Act 00:13:24.035 --> 00:13:28.175 was substantively amended significantly in 2005. 00:13:30.134 --> 00:13:37.590 This act introduces novelties primarily aimed at ensuring 00:13:39.007 --> 00:13:45.852 high-quality, competent personnel for government bodies, 00:13:46.150 --> 00:13:48.150 transparent recruitment, 00:13:48.375 --> 00:13:53.318 proper management of employees in public administration, 00:13:53.439 --> 00:13:56.621 and new methods of personnel management. 00:13:56.925 --> 00:13:58.854 We are also reintroducing 00:13:58.975 --> 00:14:02.333 scholarships for public administration bodies 00:14:02.455 --> 00:14:07.455 with the aim of ensuring the recruitment of appropriate staff 00:14:07.576 --> 00:14:09.993 and attracting new employees. 00:14:10.430 --> 00:14:15.652 Employment in public administration is a challenge in most EU countries 00:14:15.773 --> 00:14:20.318 and they are trying to compete in the labour market in various ways, 00:14:20.439 --> 00:14:22.312 as is the case in Slovenia. 00:14:22.433 --> 00:14:26.324 One of the key innovations of this act is the introduction 00:14:26.445 --> 00:14:30.921 of a working and recruitment method in public administration bodies, 00:14:31.042 --> 00:14:33.691 which involves centralised recruitment 00:14:33.812 --> 00:14:36.752 and a single entry point for employment 00:14:36.873 --> 00:14:38.540 through an HR centre 00:14:38.661 --> 00:14:43.185 that the Ministry of Public Administration will establish. 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:46.653 This is an institution that has been implemented 00:14:46.774 --> 00:14:49.375 in several EU countries in recent years. 00:14:49.496 --> 00:14:55.652 It ensures transparent recruitment into public administration bodies 00:14:55.773 --> 00:14:58.052 at a single entry point. 00:14:58.717 --> 00:15:01.742 It uses the same working method 00:15:01.863 --> 00:15:07.557 for employment in different public administration bodies. 00:15:07.684 --> 00:15:11.385 Each year, there are about 1,000 open recruitment procedures 00:15:11.506 --> 00:15:14.316 for hiring officials for administrative tasks, 00:15:14.437 --> 00:15:16.816 in around one hundred different bodies. 00:15:16.937 --> 00:15:20.508 So, the same procedures in one hundred different bodies. 00:15:20.628 --> 00:15:22.971 We aim to standardise these procedures 00:15:23.091 --> 00:15:25.961 by having all open recruitment procedures 00:15:26.082 --> 00:15:30.496 for the hiring of officials managed by the HR centre, 00:15:30.970 --> 00:15:35.137 which, we anticipate, would announce these openings 00:15:35.258 --> 00:15:39.691 on a specific day each week, so that those interested will know 00:15:39.812 --> 00:15:44.418 when job opportunities in public administration are published. 00:15:44.654 --> 00:15:47.737 The procedures will be fully digitised 00:15:47.858 --> 00:15:51.358 in order to expedite recruitment processes, 00:15:51.479 --> 00:15:53.729 which currently take longer 00:15:53.850 --> 00:15:57.683 due to the need for formal procedure management 00:15:57.804 --> 00:16:01.569 and the delivery of decisions in writing. 00:16:01.955 --> 00:16:06.244 This first entry point, managed through the HR centre, 00:16:06.365 --> 00:16:10.083 represents the first part of the recruitment process, 00:16:10.203 --> 00:16:14.328 where basic requirements for filling specific positions 00:16:14.449 --> 00:16:17.657 will be assessed, as outlined by each body. 00:16:17.778 --> 00:16:20.319 The candidates' basic understanding 00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:24.482 of the state and constitutional system will be assessed, 00:16:24.603 --> 00:16:27.270 along with an evaluation of their 00:16:27.391 --> 00:16:30.465 competency to work in public administration. 00:16:30.916 --> 00:16:34.846 Candidates who meet these requirements will be referred 00:16:34.973 --> 00:16:39.049 to the bodies that have announced the open recruitment procedure, 00:16:39.170 --> 00:16:43.253 which will then carry out the selection procedure. 00:16:46.104 --> 00:16:50.354 The act stipulates that public administration bodies 00:16:50.475 --> 00:16:54.642 will gradually adopt this new method of recruitment 00:16:54.835 --> 00:16:57.585 according to a specific timeline, 00:16:57.706 --> 00:17:01.130 from 1 January to 30 June 2026. 00:17:01.670 --> 00:17:04.170 These procedures will initially 00:17:04.291 --> 00:17:08.052 be gradually transferred to the HR centre. 00:17:08.746 --> 00:17:11.432 Despite the fact that these procedures 00:17:11.552 --> 00:17:14.766 are to be centralised under the same body, 00:17:14.887 --> 00:17:17.533 we assess that they will be expedited, 00:17:17.654 --> 00:17:21.228 which is the purpose of the recruitment procedures, 00:17:21.349 --> 00:17:24.709 as document delivery, supplementing, follow-ups, 00:17:24.830 --> 00:17:27.839 and paper documentation will be eliminated. 00:17:27.959 --> 00:17:31.965 The process will be carried out through the email address 00:17:32.086 --> 00:17:35.762 from which a candidate submits their application. 00:17:36.961 --> 00:17:39.452 A candidate who is assessed by the centre 00:17:39.573 --> 00:17:43.718 in terms of their understanding of the state and constitutional system, 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:47.006 and their competency for working in public administration, 00:17:47.127 --> 00:17:49.586 will have this assessment valid for two years. 00:17:49.706 --> 00:17:54.150 In this period, if they apply again for an open recruitment procedure 00:17:54.271 --> 00:17:57.572 for permanent employment in public administration bodies, 00:17:57.692 --> 00:18:00.631 the assessment will be taken into account 00:18:00.752 --> 00:18:02.970 and reassessment will be waived. 00:18:03.255 --> 00:18:08.608 Bodies that will recruit for a fixed period, for substitutions 00:18:08.728 --> 00:18:11.922 or shorter job tenures because of increased workload, 00:18:12.282 --> 00:18:15.502 and for positions as supporting services, 00:18:15.662 --> 00:18:19.982 professional technical support will administer the process unvaried 00:18:20.175 --> 00:18:25.815 in their own offices and in a different procedure 00:18:25.915 --> 00:18:29.282 that in general recruitment procedure under the Workers’ Statute. 00:18:31.375 --> 00:18:36.528 Some bodies shall be left out of the procedure 00:18:36.635 --> 00:18:39.862 if they have special recruitment procedures in their Statutes, 00:18:40.002 --> 00:18:44.589 especially for the workplaces of the so called authorised officers 00:18:44.749 --> 00:18:47.142 in police, in the army and in prison. 00:18:47.242 --> 00:18:52.449 They have a special foundation for their processes 00:18:52.649 --> 00:18:55.349 within their special procedures. 00:18:55.622 --> 00:19:02.135 In the procedures they usually test special psychophysical abilities. 00:19:02.722 --> 00:19:06.569 The other important instrument of the new HR centre, 00:19:06.695 --> 00:19:09.030 which won't be an independent body, 00:19:09.150 --> 00:19:12.649 but a part of the Ministry of Public Administration, 00:19:12.935 --> 00:19:18.432 is developing various modern methods for resource management. 00:19:18.892 --> 00:19:23.082 The resource management in public administration should be intensified, 00:19:23.235 --> 00:19:25.189 modern methods should be introduced. 00:19:25.402 --> 00:19:28.935 One of them is a scholarship, 00:19:29.049 --> 00:19:32.455 which was in use years ago, but was later abandoned. 00:19:33.742 --> 00:19:38.228 Other modern methods of the resource management will be introduced, 00:19:38.388 --> 00:19:42.968 for example systematic education 00:19:43.168 --> 00:19:46.042 in terms of training the skills, required for work 00:19:46.188 --> 00:19:49.942 that will be established within annual development discussions 00:19:50.182 --> 00:19:52.638 and other methods. This HR centre shall 00:19:52.732 --> 00:19:55.832 on the basis of agreement with individual bodies administer aid 00:19:55.938 --> 00:19:59.725 with their employment and other staffing procedures 00:19:59.925 --> 00:20:04.775 and will aid other bodies with technical assistance. 00:20:06.682 --> 00:20:11.168 This is one of the key novelties and for the first time 00:20:11.662 --> 00:20:13.895 in the history of Slovenian public administration 00:20:14.028 --> 00:20:17.795 centralised and transparent procedures are introduced 00:20:17.955 --> 00:20:21.802 and common entry points for recruitment within civil service. 00:20:21.962 --> 00:20:26.235 We are convinced that this will bring greater transparency 00:20:26.468 --> 00:20:31.282 in recruitment and maybe we will rebut various complaints 00:20:31.402 --> 00:20:34.662 that arose in the past in terms of 00:20:34.908 --> 00:20:40.255 insufficient transparency and objectivity in recruitment. 00:20:41.142 --> 00:20:47.775 Considering the praxis of implementing the Law from 2005, 00:20:48.028 --> 00:20:52.822 this Law is introducing updates and improvements of other institutes, 00:20:52.988 --> 00:20:56.348 but the most important are 00:20:56.508 --> 00:21:01.615 changes in selection and recruitment processes. 00:21:01.828 --> 00:21:07.168 And on the other hand legal basis for introducing various methods 00:21:07.408 --> 00:21:10.028 and instruments for personnel development. 00:21:10.302 --> 00:21:13.408 This Law will be followed by a special strategy 00:21:13.535 --> 00:21:15.775 for human resources management in public administration 00:21:15.975 --> 00:21:18.862 that will be adopted by the government 00:21:19.082 --> 00:21:22.198 and where individual institutes and instruments will be explained, 00:21:22.418 --> 00:21:26.258 which will be introduced for human resources management. 00:21:26.465 --> 00:21:28.313 They will be coordinated and guided 00:21:28.433 --> 00:21:30.609 by the Ministry of Public Administration. 00:21:30.842 --> 00:21:34.582 Thank you for a comprehensive report. Are there any questions? 00:21:37.315 --> 00:21:41.255 I would like to know if the establishing of this centre 00:21:41.415 --> 00:21:43.535 requires additional staff and funds? 00:21:43.635 --> 00:21:48.142 Will you reassign employees from existing departments 00:21:48.328 --> 00:21:51.588 or bodies there? And considering... 00:21:53.175 --> 00:21:56.488 Part of the recruitment will stay under the jurisdiction of the bodies. 00:21:56.908 --> 00:22:01.402 Will you reassign the employees or recruit new staff? 00:22:02.008 --> 00:22:08.315 We don't anticipate new recruitments for the HR centre. 00:22:08.455 --> 00:22:12.255 Some employees from the Ministry of Public Administration 00:22:12.428 --> 00:22:17.502 and other bodies were already working on recruitment procedures. 00:22:17.848 --> 00:22:21.748 A few individuals have during coordination shown some interest 00:22:21.855 --> 00:22:23.848 for working in this centre. 00:22:24.028 --> 00:22:28.968 In the long term period we could recruit new personnel 00:22:29.275 --> 00:22:33.622 that is lacking in public administration. 00:22:33.815 --> 00:22:37.389 Various psychologists and HRM professionals. 00:22:37.575 --> 00:22:43.782 As far as financial consequences of this new institute are concerned, 00:22:43.875 --> 00:22:47.895 the finance went mainly for preparing 00:22:48.075 --> 00:22:52.495 and acquiring a special information system for these procedures. 00:22:52.729 --> 00:22:59.175 These funds were allocated within the recovery and resilience plan. 00:22:59.595 --> 00:23:05.375 This information system will actually computerise the system. 00:23:05.555 --> 00:23:10.075 From submitting the application to connection with the registers, 00:23:10.202 --> 00:23:11.969 checking the requirements. 00:23:12.122 --> 00:23:18.502 The whole procedure of testing the basic knowledge and competences 00:23:18.695 --> 00:23:20.695 will be also computerised, 00:23:20.822 --> 00:23:25.655 as well as serving the candidates and informing of the activities. 00:23:25.989 --> 00:23:27.982 The decision itself, 00:23:28.222 --> 00:23:33.969 whether the candidate passed the assessment or not, 00:23:34.255 --> 00:23:38.675 will be served via e-mail from which the candidate sent the application. 00:23:38.929 --> 00:23:44.869 The funds were allocated for the purchase of the information system, 00:23:44.942 --> 00:23:50.755 while the funds for personnel, except for gradual recruitment 00:23:51.255 --> 00:23:54.355 of psychologists or HMR professionals, 00:23:54.509 --> 00:23:59.169 if there isn't enough of them in the public administration, 00:23:59.901 --> 00:24:02.312 but it will be done in phases. 00:24:02.432 --> 00:24:05.760 In the first phase, the HR centre will recruit 00:24:05.880 --> 00:24:09.935 public employees who will carry out official administrative tasks 00:24:10.055 --> 00:24:13.502 within the competence of each body for indefinite term. 00:24:13.622 --> 00:24:17.169 These hirings were already in the form of an open competition, 00:24:17.289 --> 00:24:20.867 while the fixed-term contracts, for shorter periods of time, 00:24:20.987 --> 00:24:22.588 for support services, 00:24:22.708 --> 00:24:25.912 did not fall under the Public Employees Act, 00:24:26.032 --> 00:24:29.225 but under the Employment Relationships Act, 00:24:29.345 --> 00:24:32.593 the same as everywhere else in Slovenia. 00:24:32.713 --> 00:24:38.172 The competence of the HR centre may gradually expand, 00:24:38.561 --> 00:24:41.492 it may expand to other employments, 00:24:41.613 --> 00:24:47.109 but its priority is the recruitment of permanent public employees. 00:24:47.230 --> 00:24:50.107 The Public Employees Act proposal 00:24:50.228 --> 00:24:55.099 mentions a reform of the civil service career system. 00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:57.990 How will this be regulated now? 00:24:58.292 --> 00:25:02.090 Will there be any significant changes, for example in the titles? 00:25:02.210 --> 00:25:03.890 What can we expect? 00:25:04.082 --> 00:25:07.393 The overhaul of the career system 00:25:07.514 --> 00:25:13.514 is primarily linked to development of human resources management. 00:25:13.865 --> 00:25:17.941 In addition to the core competences for work in the civil service, 00:25:18.061 --> 00:25:23.317 the competency model, introduced in the civil service in 2019, 00:25:23.546 --> 00:25:29.088 also includes a model for assessing job-specific competences, 00:25:29.209 --> 00:25:33.355 managerial competences, competences linked to the content of the tasks. 00:25:33.475 --> 00:25:38.012 The assessment of these competences 00:25:38.133 --> 00:25:40.111 is part of the development interviews. 00:25:40.231 --> 00:25:42.785 Managers conduct a development interview 00:25:42.905 --> 00:25:45.744 with public employees at least once every year. 00:25:45.864 --> 00:25:51.631 During this development interview they identify any interests, 00:25:51.959 --> 00:25:58.582 skills, abilities for other work the individual would like to do, 00:25:58.703 --> 00:26:01.953 or, through discussion and assessment, 00:26:02.074 --> 00:26:03.875 through the information system 00:26:03.995 --> 00:26:06.242 that guides this development interview, 00:26:06.362 --> 00:26:13.223 they can assess any skills gaps for the current job, 00:26:14.577 --> 00:26:19.118 and then prepare a specific training and education programme. 00:26:19.238 --> 00:26:21.779 Which means that the development interview, 00:26:21.899 --> 00:26:27.741 where the competence and ability to perform specific tasks is determined, 00:26:27.861 --> 00:26:30.636 will then also be the basis for the preparation 00:26:30.756 --> 00:26:33.014 of the training programme, 00:26:33.135 --> 00:26:36.663 and thus also make it more predictable, 00:26:36.889 --> 00:26:39.318 possible to design the programmes 00:26:39.438 --> 00:26:43.223 and the scope of the programmes at the Administrative Academy. 00:26:43.343 --> 00:26:46.428 So that the training and education programme, 00:26:46.548 --> 00:26:48.945 through the assessment of competences, 00:26:49.065 --> 00:26:53.628 not only general, but specific for the performance of particular tasks, 00:26:53.748 --> 00:27:00.027 would link the training programmes and needs more closely 00:27:00.148 --> 00:27:06.179 with the actual identified needs for the acquisition or upgrading 00:27:06.300 --> 00:27:10.395 of the specific competences of the public employees in their jobs. 00:27:10.515 --> 00:27:14.455 A question about the Public Officials Act. 00:27:14.852 --> 00:27:18.506 Are there any significant changes 00:27:18.627 --> 00:27:22.815 in the rights and obligations of the officials? 00:27:23.411 --> 00:27:28.012 The Public Officials Act means adopting a new act 00:27:28.133 --> 00:27:31.479 in relation to the current act, which was adopted in 1990. 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:36.087 The main drawback of the current regulation of officials was 00:27:36.207 --> 00:27:38.101 that it was extremely outdated 00:27:38.221 --> 00:27:40.659 and extremely difficult to apply in practice. 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:43.800 This led to a lot of authorities 00:27:43.921 --> 00:27:48.178 regulating the rights and obligations of their officials 00:27:48.298 --> 00:27:51.632 in their own legislation, and it became very opaque. 00:27:51.752 --> 00:27:56.211 The main purpose of the new act is to update the act 00:27:56.332 --> 00:27:59.495 and to unify the rights and obligations 00:27:59.615 --> 00:28:04.002 during and after their term in a single regulation. 00:28:04.123 --> 00:28:08.193 The act doesn't introduce any significant new rights 00:28:08.313 --> 00:28:11.868 either during the term or after the end of the term. 00:28:11.988 --> 00:28:14.498 There are certain improvements, such as the fact 00:28:14.618 --> 00:28:18.160 that after the end of their term, public officials have 00:28:18.280 --> 00:28:23.911 the possibility to return to their previous employer within 30 days. 00:28:24.556 --> 00:28:28.109 If they cannot return to their previous employer, 00:28:28.229 --> 00:28:30.014 they are entitled to compensation, 00:28:30.134 --> 00:28:33.710 but they also get compensation for up to 30 days, 00:28:33.830 --> 00:28:36.449 while they arrange their return to the previous employer. 00:28:36.569 --> 00:28:40.804 Now the compensation meant they couldn't return. 00:28:41.202 --> 00:28:45.275 There are some improvements. 00:28:45.396 --> 00:28:49.926 The new act defines more concretely the authority 00:28:50.047 --> 00:28:54.463 that decides on the rights of officials both during the term 00:28:54.583 --> 00:28:59.667 and after the end of the term, which wasn't clearly regulated. 00:28:59.917 --> 00:29:02.518 It regulates reimbursement of expenses 00:29:02.638 --> 00:29:05.185 and other remuneration of officials, 00:29:05.305 --> 00:29:07.600 which was only temporarily regulated 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:11.323 and linked to the public employees regulation. 00:29:11.443 --> 00:29:14.604 This regulation was transferred to collective agreements, 00:29:14.724 --> 00:29:18.452 which cannot apply to public officials, 00:29:18.573 --> 00:29:22.289 so some temporary solution was first in the Fiscal Balance Act, 00:29:22.409 --> 00:29:25.020 then in the wage act, where it doesn't belong. 00:29:25.140 --> 00:29:31.181 Now it will be part of the systemic regulation for officials. 00:29:31.302 --> 00:29:33.974 It regulates annual leave for officials, 00:29:34.094 --> 00:29:37.469 which doesn't mean new rights or an increase for officials, 00:29:37.589 --> 00:29:40.713 it is just transferred from the current regulation, 00:29:40.833 --> 00:29:43.311 where it was the same as for public employees, 00:29:43.431 --> 00:29:46.566 which is again regulated by collective agreements, 00:29:46.686 --> 00:29:48.366 and not by an act. 00:29:49.138 --> 00:29:56.681 The new act introduces the inspection of all these rights 00:29:56.938 --> 00:30:01.905 during and after the end of the term of office. 00:30:02.502 --> 00:30:07.007 The remuneration is mainly inspected by the Public Sector Inspectorate, 00:30:07.127 --> 00:30:12.055 while the rights after the end of the term of office 00:30:12.176 --> 00:30:15.593 are inspected by the Budgetary Inspection. 00:30:16.878 --> 00:30:23.707 It introduces something that already applies to public employees. 00:30:23.955 --> 00:30:28.092 It provides for legal aid to an official who, 00:30:28.213 --> 00:30:32.284 as a result of their office, is the subject of compensation proceedings. 00:30:32.404 --> 00:30:36.223 Public employees are already provided with legal aid 00:30:36.343 --> 00:30:40.295 in the event that, as a result of their work as a public employee, 00:30:40.415 --> 00:30:44.216 they are the subject of various criminal or compensation proceedings. 00:30:44.336 --> 00:30:49.105 For officials, legal aid is provided only for compensation proceedings, 00:30:49.225 --> 00:30:52.501 because criminal proceedings go through certain assessments 00:30:52.621 --> 00:30:55.109 of the validity of conducting various proceedings. 00:30:55.229 --> 00:30:58.991 Public servants and officials are in a different position 00:30:59.111 --> 00:31:01.984 as far as their duties and decisions are concerned. 00:31:02.104 --> 00:31:05.599 This regulation is not exactly the same. 00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:10.412 Whereas public employees are provided with free legal aid, 00:31:10.532 --> 00:31:15.719 officials are merely provided with some reimbursement of the costs, 00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:20.799 which are then returned to the budget of the state or the municipality. 00:31:20.919 --> 00:31:23.446 By the official 00:31:23.627 --> 00:31:31.445 who has been found to be liable for damages, 00:31:31.566 --> 00:31:35.994 or the costs of the proceedings that are imposed on the opposing party 00:31:36.114 --> 00:31:38.517 in the event of an unsuccessful proceeding 00:31:38.637 --> 00:31:41.049 are also returned to the budget. 00:31:41.169 --> 00:31:46.956 Because we wouldn't want this part of the new right to legal aid 00:31:47.158 --> 00:31:51.515 to be perceived by the public as a kind of bonus 00:31:51.636 --> 00:31:59.286 that the lawmakers and the officials have given to themselves, 00:31:59.407 --> 00:32:03.110 the provision of legal aid to officials who, 00:32:03.231 --> 00:32:06.075 as a result of the performance of their duties, 00:32:06.195 --> 00:32:08.524 find themselves in compensation proceedings, 00:32:08.644 --> 00:32:12.687 will come into effect with the new mandates of elected officials, 00:32:12.807 --> 00:32:17.014 or all officials of the executive branch of government. 00:32:17.134 --> 00:32:20.743 This right will not be exercised during this mandate. 00:32:20.863 --> 00:32:23.321 Is that all? No more questions? 00:32:23.441 --> 00:32:28.941 This concludes the press conference, thank you and have a good day.