The government began talks with the unions that hold the strongest influence over civil servants to approve the public job offer for the 2023 fiscal year. The aim was to take the plan to the Cabinet the following Tuesday, July 11, according to multiple sources trusted by the executive. While there is broad consensus that a multi‑year agreement could be on the table, discussions are still concentrating on a closing window around 2025.
Typically the OPE is ratified in May, but the schedule has been disrupted by municipal elections and an unexpected early vote. With the election just weeks away, the Government is expected to greenlight what could become one of the largest public job offers in recent memory.
Last year, 29,578 positions were created across the General State Administration, and insiders expect the count to be at least the same in this cycle. When security services, institutions, and stabilization processes are included, the total rises to about 44,787 roles.
Representatives from the Treasury and Public Administration met with CSIF, CCOO, and UGT last Thursday, and another round of talks is planned for Friday to finalize negotiations by Monday.
The unions are pressing for an ambitious proposal that addresses the negative balance from public‑sector cuts that have persisted for a decade. CSIF estimates that the General State Administration has shed more than 54,000 jobs since 2010. Roughly 60 percent of the current workforce will reach retirement age in coming years, creating a need for replacements to maintain continuity.
CCOO sources indicate a preference for a three‑year multi‑year deal. They want to see new positions created under current staffing responsibilities, with a plan to account for predictable retirements and future restocking needs. If the Government accepts this approach, a large number of places could be opened this year, with a commitment to fill positions once retirements occur.
In recent months the Government and several ministries have signed agreements to bring factories into production and strengthen services or departments. Some agreements include provisions that limit strikes in areas such as Social Security or the Justice administration.
2023 appears to be shaping up as a year of oppositions, framed by macro stabilization efforts across administrations that aim to reduce intra‑rank churn to around 8 percent. The nation’s statistics office reports that temporary employment in the public sector now exceeds private‑sector levels by more than a factor of two, and by over 30 percent in certain regions. This has drawn European scrutiny over the use of provisional figures, while the Government continues to pursue stabilization measures.
Accordingly, this year’s OPE is anticipated by unions to carry a broad scope, including a substantial allocation for 2019’s ordinary stabilization measures and other long‑term priorities, all aimed at rebuilding staffing levels and ensuring service continuity across agencies.