Institutional Measures to Implement the New Act on Civil Service (CZ0009)
Overview
At-a-Glance
Action Plan: Czech Republic, Second Action Plan, 2014-2016
Action Plan Cycle: 2014
Status:
Institutions
Lead Institution: Ministry of Interior
Support Institution(s): NA
Policy Areas
Capacity BuildingIRM Review
IRM Report: Czech Republic End-of-Term Report 2014-2016, Czech Republic IRM Progress Report 2014-2015
Early Results: Did Not Change
Design i
Verifiable: Yes
Relevant to OGP Values: No
Ambition (see definition): Low
Implementation i
Description
A key role during transformation of state administration into state service will have a methodical and coordination body, which will be preparing service instructions and regulate their implementation. This body – Section for State Administration – will be established in the Ministry of Interior. Milestones: ● Establishing an organizational body for public service and incorporating it into the organizational structure of the Ministry of Interior. ● Establishing a Section for State Service and incorporating it into the organizational structure of the Ministry of Interior. Responsible Institution: The Ministry of Interior Supporting Institution(s): None Start Date: Not Specified End Date: 1 January 2015
IRM End of Term Status Summary
Commitment 3. Institutional measures to implement the new Act on Civil Service
Commitment Text:
A key role during transformation of state administration into state service will have a methodical and coordination body, which will be preparing service instructions and regulate their implementation. This body – Section for State Administration – will be established in the Ministry of Interior.
Editorial Note: The Section for State Service (SSS) was ultimately named Section for Civil Service (SCS) and is referred to as such throughout the report.
Milestones:
3.1 Establishing an organizational body for public service and incorporating it into the organizational structure of the Ministry of Interior.
3.2 Establishing a Section for Civil Service and incorporating it into the organizational structure of the Ministry of Interior.
Editorial Note: Before the adoption of the second action plan, the Government of the Czech Republic had two proposals to create a regulatory body. This commitment includes both proposals, causing a duplication of milestones. In practice, both have the same meaning and therefore are analysed as one.
Responsible institution: The Ministry of Interior
Supporting institution(s): None
Start date: Not specified End date: 1 January 2015
Commitment Aim:
The commitment is aimed at creating a coordinating body within the Ministry of the Interior, responsible for carrying out civil service reforms. For example, the coordinating body would prepare selection procedures for state secretary positions, draft the first systematization of civil service positions, and publish methodological directives on applying the Act. Creating such a body could contribute to the general goal of de-politicisation, professionalization and stabilization of the state administration sector.
Status: Complete at midterm
The government fulfilled this commitment even before the current action plan was approved. Government Decree no. 776 of 22 September 2014 established the Section for the Civil Service (SCS).[Note 12: Available at [Czech] http://www.mvcr.cz/soubor/uv-776-2014-k-mater-ope-pdf.aspx.]
Did it open government?
Access to information: Did not change
Civic Participation: Did not change
Public accountability: Did not change
Creating a central coordinating body was an important element in implementing the Civil Service Act. The Section for the Civil Service (SCS), under the direction of the Ministry of the Interior, was established for this purpose, although the initial plan was to create a fully independent agency within the Office of the Government. The SCS fulfils the commitment aims, although it is difficult to assess the actual outcomes of its methodological and coordinating role. Some stakeholders have expressed concerns that long-term efficiency and impartiality could be negatively affected due to the SCS’s subordination to the Ministry of Interior.[Note 13: Edvard Outrata, interview by the IRM researchers, 11 September 2015. ]
As implemented, the commitment does not have clear relevance to OGP values and does not include public-facing elements. While IRM researchers consider this commitment to be a step forward to improve the transparency and quality of government, it focuses on internal adjustments that do not change government practice in access to information, civic participation or public accountability.
Carried forward?
The government fully accomplished this commitment by establishing the Section for the Civil Service. As a result, it was not carried over to the next action plan.