The President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, and the Minister responsible, Stanislas Guerini, have announced a reform of the civil service. This topic is of interest to citizens but can be complex and opaque. Three main questions arise: Should the legal regime applicable to public servants (known as the general statute) be modified? Should the remuneration of public servants be reviewed? How can human resources management in public services be improved to make them more attractive and efficient?
When it comes to the legal regime of public servants, the evolution of perspectives is enlightening. Before World War II, the left, especially the CGT, was against a statute that seemed to favor the employer. They preferred contracts, which they believed to be more equal. The first public service statute was actually established under the Vichy regime in 1941. After the Liberation, a new statute was enacted in 1946, with the left becoming its strongest supporter.
Since then, exceptions allowing for the recruitment of contractual employees – who are not subject to the statute – have multiplied for reasons of management flexibility and because many individuals want to work in public services without pursuing a career in it. Out of the 5.7 million public servants working for the State, local authorities, and hospitals, around one million are contractual employees today, reflecting a “dual” civil service that caters to diverse needs.
Regarding remuneration, in 1945, Maurice Thorez, a communist minister of public service, ensured that performance bonuses complemented civil servants’ salaries. Since then, over a thousand systems of allowances and bonuses have been created, leading to a complex system. On average, these bonuses and allowances make up 25% of the total remuneration of public servants. The main component of this remuneration is the salary, which is determined based on the specific position and level of each public servant.
The issue of human resources management in public services also plays a key role. How to make the services more attractive and efficient is a crucial question. The need to attract and retain talented employees while ensuring effective management is essential for the functioning of public services. The reform of the civil service aims to address these challenges and improve the overall performance and attractiveness of the public sector. It is important to carefully consider these aspects to ensure the quality and effectiveness of public services for the benefit of all citizens.
