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🇧🇪 Belgium /Economy & Trade

In Wallonia, local public service will no longer have different rules from one municipality to another

From La Libre Belgique · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Wallonia, Belgium, is reforming its local public service to create a unified framework for all municipal and provincial agents.
  • The reform aims to modernize the administration, making it more efficient and readable by standardizing recruitment, career development, disciplinary measures, and leave policies.
  • The move shifts towards a "contractual" employment model, with objective recruitment procedures and a single work regulation for all local administrations.

The Walloon government is undertaking a significant reform of its local public service, a move that promises to streamline and modernize administration across the region. As reported by La Libre Belgique, the current system is characterized by a lack of uniformity, with different municipalities and provinces operating under distinct rules for their employees.

This reform, spearheaded by Minister François Desquesnes, aims to create a more cohesive and effective public sector. By establishing a common framework, referred to as "La Locale," the government intends to ensure equal treatment for all agents, regardless of their specific commune or province. This includes standardizing recruitment processes, which will now be based on objective criteria and depoliticized juries, moving away from the previous system where nominations were gradually phased out.

These new rules will ensure equal treatment for all members of the 'Locale' staff, and facilitate career prospects through rules promoting mobility and talent development.

· François DesquesnesExplaining the benefits of the reform for public service agents.

The shift towards a "tout au contractuel" (all contractual) model, while respecting the status of currently appointed personnel, is a key aspect of this modernization. This approach is expected to attract a wider range of talent by offering clearer career paths, enhanced mobility, and standardized training opportunities. Furthermore, the reform introduces a single work regulation and harmonized disciplinary and leave policies, simplifying procedures for both employees and employers.

From a Walloon perspective, this reform is crucial for enhancing the efficiency of local services and ensuring fairness within the public administration. It addresses long-standing issues of disparity and aims to create a more professional and agile workforce capable of meeting the evolving needs of citizens. The emphasis on objective recruitment and career development signals a commitment to meritocracy and improved public service delivery.

The use of AI in the Walloon administration will allow some civil servants to perform more rewarding tasks.

· Jacqueline GalantCommenting on the integration of technology in the reformed public service.
About this summary

Originally published by La Libre Belgique in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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