Preliminary Negotiations on 2022 Public Employment Proposal Across the Civil Service
The ongoing discussion in the public sector centers on a provisional package tied to the 2022 public employment proposal (OPE). Maria Jesus Montero has brought key points to the table, with union sources indicating that approximately 23,000 new positions are being considered for the General Administration of the State (AGE). In addition, a separate temporary measure could add between 4,500 and 5,000 posts. Workers’ representatives view this level as inadequate. While the figure surpasses last year, it does not fully address the accumulated personnel losses caused by a decade of reductions. Public officials have not confirmed or denied these numbers, noting that the total outlook remains unresolved as deliberations continue on this year’s OPE.
Negotiations are entering a critical phase as a new civil service stabilization law requires administrations to publish stabilization plans before the end of May. The centers remain confident they can secure additional placements funded by the Treasury in the near term, arguing that the budget has room to maneuver and that stronger state capacity is needed. Union estimates suggest that 54,000 to 60,000 workers have left the public sector over the past decade due to retirements and replacements. A warning from workers’ representatives highlights that the long-term viability of the general government depends on attracting and retaining staff; they project that roughly 60% of the workforce could be eligible for retirement within ten years.
CCOO calculations propose a mix of 15,000 new admission slots, 10,500 internal promotion opportunities, and an IPO (initial public offering) of 25,500 as a balanced strategy to refresh the ranks. They argue that speed in filling positions is essential and that waiting for up to three years is unacceptable. In an effort to accelerate staffing, they suggested leasing a portion of the newly created vacancies to treasury-managed temporary hires who have passed exams, allowing them to join immediately and then transition to permanent status once positions are formally established. This proposal, however, did not gain approval.
UGT voices a sense of frustration, asking how the government has not yet committed to a multi-year employment plan. Across the centers there is a shared demand for a sustained relief strategy that addresses the aging age structure within the AGE. The absence of a definitive long-term framework is seen as a barrier to stabilizing the civil service and ensuring consistent service delivery, a concern that persists as discussions continue under the leadership of the ministry headed by María Jesús Montero. The dialogue, still in its early stages, underscores the urgency of a comprehensive plan that aligns recruitment, promotion, and stabilization with the fiscal constraints and political will of the moment. (Sources: CSIF, CCOO, UGT)