The government approved the draft at first reading this Tuesday, signaling a commitment to reform within the Plan for Recovery, Transformation and Resilience. This initiative, outlined by Isabel Rodríguez, the Executive spokesperson and Minister for Regional Policy, followed a press conference after the Council of Ministers meeting.
Rodríguez emphasized that the reform aims to advance the Public Employees Basic Charter, a standard long-awaited by the public sector. She noted that the EBEP development, unseen for fifteen years, rests with this administration to move forward, with the bill now entering an early dialogue phase to gather feedback from social mediators and other stakeholders while remaining open to future improvements.
The proposed legislation seeks to transform and modernize the General Government Administration by introducing elements that enhance efficiency and governance across the state. It recommends establishing a strategic planning framework to align administrative objectives with human resources policies and to tailor personnel selection to the evolving needs of the Administration.
The Ministry of Finance and Public Administrations stated in a formal briefing that this planning underpins the draft and will be applied across the General State Administration, autonomous bodies, Social Security management entities, state-owned enterprises, government agencies, independent authorities and administrative bodies, as well as non-devolved public universities and other public law entities.
professional public manager figure
The bill also outlines a horizontal career path with a structured ladder that enables advancement without changing posts. The Treasury identifies this regulation of horizontal professional careers as one of the major innovations in the draft, with internal career development guiding promotions based on career progression and performance evaluations.
Under the proposed framework, officials will undergo systematic performance assessments to boost efficiency and strengthen professionalism within the public service. The Treasury explains that these evaluations will periodically measure results and behavior, informing decisions on professional advancement.
Additionally, the legislation would recognize a professional public manager role responsible for designing public policies and programs. Heads of sub-directorates and similar areas would be treated as professional public managers, reinforcing a modern understanding of the public administration role.
The Treasury stresses that this profile is essential to uphold professionalism and ensure alignment with measurable results. The EBEP outlines plans for equality, social dialogue, and lifelong learning, with the administration adopting distinct protocols to address sexual or gender-based harassment, updates to which are scheduled every four years, according to Rodríguez.
Furthermore, each Ministry would establish a dedicated unit to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities.
Two new salary supplements
The draft introduces two new supplements linked to performance appraisal and professional development for civil servants. The career supplement would reward progress within the professional track and, as explained by the Treasury, would be uniform for all civil servants within the same recognized professional group or sub-group.
The second supplement would reward exceptional performance and would be paid upon successful completion of performance evaluations conducted throughout a public career, with mandatory participation.
Complementary pay would include a destination supplement, a special allowance, a performance bonus, and a career supplement. Additional compensation for extraordinary services rendered outside normal hours or for extraordinary tasks performed on the job would be incorporated into these payments.
Objective and regionalized testing
The draft also introduces a renewed model for accessing public administration jobs. The Finance and Public Duties ministry confirms that equality, merit, and competence will be prioritized in public employment selection.
Content of selection processes, defined duties, and the professionalization of civil service bodies will be updated. A mixed model will be adopted, balancing knowledge assessments with proven professional skills to ensure fair access. Regional selective processes will be carried out to democratize opportunities across the country.