Three bills introducing changes to the public sector recruitment process were submitted to Parliament on Thursday.
The three bills, approved by the Council of Ministers on April 8, are:
a) the Evaluation of Candidates for Appointment to the Public Service Law of 2026,
b) the Public Service (Amendment) Law of 2026, and
c) the Evaluation of Candidates for Appointment to the Public Service (Temporary Provisions) Law of 2026.
According to the explanatory report, the purpose of the first bill is to modify the procedure for filling entry-level positions in the public service.
Written examinations after job announcements
Specifically, it provides that general written examinations for entry-level public service posts will be held after the announcement of vacant positions, rather than beforehand. The aim is to ensure that the application process and candidates’ interest are more targeted and aligned with the staffing needs of government services.
At the same time, decisions regarding the examination subjects will be based on the specific needs and characteristics of the positions to be filled.
Citizens will also be able to see whether vacancies exist for which they hold the required qualifications, allowing them to decide whether to sit the examinations, which require preparation and the payment of a fee.
Earlier publication of vacancies
Another provision states that vacant posts will be published during the first two months of the year, instead of every four months, in order to speed up the recruitment process.
The bills also remove the requirement for the annual submission to Parliament of lists of positions for which a general or special written examination must be conducted by the relevant advisory committees.
According to the explanatory report, the complex approval process for these lists, which requires Parliament’s approval, causes delays, bureaucratic procedures and risks to timely approval, particularly since Parliament cannot amend the lists but can only approve or reject them.
Special written examinations by decree
The bill further provides that positions requiring a special written examination, due to documented reasons related to their particular characteristics or recruitment difficulties, will be determined by a Council of Ministers decree, to be issued in December of the year preceding the vacancy announcements.
In addition, the special committee currently responsible for conducting the general written examination will be abolished. The decision on the type of examination will instead be taken by the Public Service Commission, as the competent administrative body for written examinations.
Changes to candidate scoring
Another provision increases the scoring weight of the evaluation by the relevant department head during the oral examination before the Public Service Commission, from 0–5 points to 0–15 points.
The Public Service Commission will be able to award up to 20 points to candidates during the oral examination.
Transitional provisions for 2026
The third bill provides that the written examination normally held during the last four months of each year for entry-level public service posts will not be conducted.
It also stipulates that the lists of positions usually submitted annually to Parliament for approval will not be submitted in 2026.
However, the regulation does not affect recruitment during 2026, since under the current law, candidates who passed the written examination held in the final four months of 2025 may still apply for any vacant position published during 2026, provided they meet the required qualifications.