Rada restores civil service competitions and introduces new selection rules
Kyiv • UNN
The relevant draft law proposes a phased return to competitive selection, which was restricted during the period of martial law. The authors of the draft law paid special attention to the transparency of procedures.
Ukraine has taken the first step toward restoring competitive selection processes for entering the civil service and improving the procedures for serving in it. On Wednesday, April 28, the Verkhovna Rada passed bill No. 13478-1 in its first reading, which provides for this. 236 parliamentarians pressed the "green button." UNN looked into how the changes proposed by this document will affect Ukraine once the law is signed by the President and comes into force.
Details
As the initiators of the document note in the explanatory note, the bill was developed to implement the Ukraine Plan for 2024–2027 and to bring civil servant selection procedures into compliance with the OECD principles of public administration (SIGMA).
How exactly competitive selection for positions will be restored in Ukraine
The document proposes a phased return of competitive selection, which was restricted during the period of martial law. The restoration of competitions is planned in three stages: first for Category A positions, then for Category B in controlled territories where no hostilities are occurring, and in the final stage, for Category C under the same conditions.
However, there is a nuance: the draft law allows for appointments without competition to positions in districts where hostilities are ongoing, and also grants managers the right to keep employees appointed without competitions in their positions to preserve human resource potential.
How the bill will change the civil service
In addition to restoring competitions, the draft law provides for a number of changes in the civil service system. In particular, it proposes the introduction of modern human resource management tools, including personnel and candidate reserves, internal competitions, and mechanisms for the adaptation of new employees.
It also introduces new opportunities for career growth: civil servants with an excellent performance rating will be able to be promoted to higher positions within their category during the year. At the same time, the conditions for dismissal are clarified, and the rule regarding dismissal after a single negative evaluation is abolished.
The authors of the bill paid special attention to the transparency of procedures. They propose introducing a special check for candidates for top-category positions before the interview, as well as strengthening the requirement for political neutrality of the relevant commissions.
As previously reported, the bill establishes priority for male and female veterans when candidates have equal professional qualifications.