Concerns about the consequences of the measure proposed to be voted on to lift the limits on the renewal of secondments of civil servants to semi-state organizations and vice versa, MPs and trade unions expressed to the Finance Committee on Monday.
The proposed legislation had gone to the Plenary for a vote on Thursday, however, at the suggestion of the MP of DIPA, Alekos Tryfonidis, it was returned to the Finance Committee for discussion. It is recalled that today secondments from semi-state organizations to the public sector and vice versa are valid for three years with the possibility of renewal for another three years, while with the proposal the employee will be able to remain on secondment indefinitely.
Mr. Tryfonidis noted that he does not disagree with the removal of the limit on secondments, but noted that the position remains open in the organization from which the employee left. Instead, when he is due for a promotion, he is promoted from the organization in which he was originally hired while continuing to work in another position.
His proposal is, after the six years, to create the position he covers by secondment, since there is a need for the secondment, and to free the position he has in the organization he comes from and to create a position there. Otherwise, in case he is promoted, he must return to the service from which he came.
Representatives of the Ministry of Finance and the EDH expressed their disagreement with the proposal, as the employee who is seconded retains his original position in the organization that was hired. They raised a question of legality and constitutionality because, they said, you can't force someone to leave their post because they were seconded.
On the question of creating a post in the new agency, they said that this is a matter of executive authority, while stressing that if the post is created, the seconded official should apply for it on an equal footing with other candidates.
A representative of PASYDY stated that they do not agree with the proposal of Mr. Tryfonidis.
Andreas Ilias, General Secretary of OHO-SEK said that the union's position is that where there is a long-term posting and a need is demonstrated "we will demand the creation of positions".
For his part, the General Secretary of SIDIKEK-PEO said that "logic and regularity are violated", as "in a normal state planning should be where you are appointed to perform your duties and the exception is if for someone period you have to go elsewhere". On the contrary, he noted, the measure of detachment "is used as a weapon". He noted that the Organizations are punished, when people are promoted who do not ultimately contribute to the organizations, denouncing party interference and concluding that in the end the government machine is not won.
A representative of the Equality Union requested that the employee with a long-term secondment be interviewed himself before doing so, as it will have an impact on gaining experience, affecting his advancement.
A representative of PASYNO stated that it is positive that there will be the need to renew the secondment every three years. In addition, he agreed with EDY that the employee must maintain his organizational position and the rights he had where he was appointed.
The President of the Committee, Member of Parliament of DIKO, Christiana Erotokritou, said that the matter does not concern the legislative power, but the executive power.
Accordingly, DISY Member of Parliament, Savia Orfanidou, stated that she does not agree with the approach of Mr. Tryfonidis, as there is a procedure to move someone from the start, there are regulations, a way of handling and "we would be concerned that additional positions would be created", she said.
In his statement after the completion of the Committee's meeting, DIPA Member of Parliament, Alekos Tryfonidis, said that a "serious provocation and distortion, injustices between employees" are being created. He noted that "we do not object to the employee staying when there is a need, but when he is promoted in the organization from which he comes to stay there to work and perform for the promotion he got."
As he said, "unfortunately, both the Personnel Department and the Legal Service presented constitutional obstacles." He called on the President and the Minister of Finance to address the issue "to resolve distortions that do not promote equality and productivity in the public and semi-public sector."
Source: KYPE