Serbian administration lowers number of permanent staff

The report warned that administrative bodies were increasingly hiring staff on temporary contracts, adding that an excessive number of people in top posts were acting chiefs on temporary assignment. Of the total of 370 leading posts at the level of the central government, 322 were filled and 214 of those (66 percent) were there as acting officials.

The government has filled a number of leading posts with acting heads of department and their contracts are renewed every few months. Those officials do not have to go through the process of applying for the job as a permanent position.

The report said that a rise in the number public administration staff can be expected. Serbia has 6.4 people working in the public administration per 100 employees while the European Union has 8.5 in older member states and eight in new members.