THE SLOVAK cabinet approved a law considerably cutting the powers of the existing Office for State Service (ÚPŠS). The ministry believes the ÚPŠS is inflexible. Finance Minister Ivan Mikloš, whose ministry proposed the law, admitted that he would prefer to see the office closed for good.
The law transfers responsibility for hiring civil servants to individual ministries. It also abolishes the responsibility of the ÚPŠS to train state employees.
ÚPŠS chairman Ľubomír Plai said that the changes increase the threat of political nominations to state posts.
"There will not be one central, state-authorized institution that would guarantee that job tenders are carried out transparently and candidates are chosen purely because of their skills and abilities," said Plai.
