Prime Minister Petr Fiala has unveiled a substantial reduction in the number of officials at ministries and offices as part of a government initiative known as systematization. Starting in January, 2,636 positions will be eliminated, representing a 3.5% decrease in the total number of officials. The move aims to enhance the efficiency of the state apparatus and fulfill the Together coalition’s pre-election promise to streamline the government by 13%.

Prime Minister Fiala emphasized the drastic reduction in the number of officials as a means of making the state function more effectively. Of the eliminated positions, 2,522 fall under the Civil Service Act, and 114 are in accordance with the Labour Code. The anticipated savings from this reduction are estimated to amount to 290 million crowns.

The government-approved systematization is expected to bring the total number of officials working for the state to 73,232 by 2024. Fiala highlighted that, with this measure, the government has achieved a 4.5% reduction in official positions since its inception, demonstrating a commitment to efficiency and the fulfillment of promises.

This move marks the most significant reduction in the number of officials since the introduction of the Civil Service Act in 2015. Fiala recalled that during the previous government’s tenure under Andrej Babiš, the state had 5,300 more officials five years ago.

Deputy Prime Minister Marian Jurečka provided specific details, noting that at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, there will be a year-on-year reduction of 1,812 officials. This reduction aligns with the government’s broader strategy to optimize various ministries and departments.

However, not all ministries will experience a decrease in official positions. Martin Baxa, the head of the Ministry of Culture, mentioned that the number of positions at his department would decrease by eight or nine. This reduction will involve a combination of abolishing unoccupied tabular positions, partial reorganization, and layoffs. The overall initiative aims to create a leaner and more efficient government structure in line with the coalition’s commitment to administrative streamlining.

Article by Prague Forum