Principal Permanent Secretary defends public service efficiency amid overstaffing criticism
The Principal Permanent Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister has defended the public service's efficiency from criticism, saying that describing it as 'bloated' or 'overstaffed' is an "incorrect sweeping statement".The Malta Independent on S
The Principal Permanent Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister has defended the public service's efficiency from criticism, saying that describing it as 'bloated' or 'overstaffed' is an "incorrect sweeping statement".
The Malta Independent on Sunday reached out to Tony Sultana with questions about the efficiency of the public service, following a "historic" signing of a new collective agreement between the government and 10 unions, which is to benefit 33,000 public service employees through financial increases and improved conditions.
This collective agreement was also the first to ever be signed before the expiration of the existing one.
Asked if this could be interpreted as government offering "too much" to unions, Sultana disagreed, saying that when speaking about industrial relations, such an interpretation is "over-simplistic."
"The Public Service considers unions as strategic partners. This is evident in an agreement that not only improves the conditions of 33,000 employees through salary and allowance increases but also includes several progressive measures, such as environmental considerations and key provisions to promote industrial harmony," Sultana said.
He continued that this harmony will foster proactive collaboration through regular discussions with social partners, enabling them to collectively shape the future.
"On the other hand, when there are requests that we cannot accept, we make our position clear," Sultana said.
He said that this collective agreement is a comprehensive effort aimed at motivating officers to deliver exceptional service to all Maltese and Gozitan citizens.
"It is truly a win-win agreement that benefits everyone in Malta and Gozo, and I am incredibly proud of it," Sultana said.
There is a strong public perception that the public sector is not as efficient as the private sector, and Sultana was asked if there is truth to this.
"On the contrary, the services we provide and the way we operate within the Public Service are often seen as examples to emulate by private companies," Sultana said.
He highlighted that, in times of crisis, it was public officers who stepped up to ensure that society continues to function smoothly.
"Public officers are not only effective but also indispensable to society," Sultana said.
Moreover, Sultana said that the public services' best practices in modern workplace policies are setting a standard that private companies aspire to follow.
He mentioned a recent example of the effectiveness of public officers, which was reflected in the latest Eurobarometer results.
"Just a few days ago, it was reported that 66% of people are satisfied with the quality of public services in our country, 14% higher than the European average. This demonstrates the high level of efficiency and dedication within the Public Service," Sultana said.
Sultana also defended summer half-days for certain public service workers, despite the private sector often indicating that they are affecting productivity.
"First of all, it is to be noted that not all public service workers follow summer schedules; it depends on their specific roles," Sultana clarified.
He explained that during winter, workers put in longer hours, which are offset by shorter summer schedules.
Sultana continued that the total hours worked remain the same, as longer winter hours compensate for reduced demand during summer due to climate conditions.
He did not directly answer a question on if a blanket removal of half-days is being considered.
Sultana vehemently disagreed that the public service is "bloated" and "over-manned," while businesses struggle to fill vacant positions, saying that the Public Administration does not operate in isolation.
"Official statistics show that in December 2008, 28 out of every 100 of the working population were employed in the public administration. Today, this figure has significantly decreased to 18 per 100," Sultana said.
He said that just as private businesses face challenges in finding employees, so does the Public Administration.
Sultana said that there are instances, particularly in certain sectors, where positions are advertised once, twice, or even three times, yet no suitable candidates are found.
"It is important to avoid oversimplifying the situation by merely quoting numbers without understanding the broader context," Sultana said.
President of the Malta Employers Association Joanne Bondin had said that dependency on foreign workers in Malta "is attributable to a bloated public sector," among other things.
Asked on this, Sultana said that any reliance on foreign workers is not tied to the workforce within the public administration, but rather, reflects an economy achieving significant success.
"This is evident in the fact that unemployment is virtually non-existent, providing Maltese workers with a broader range of job opportunities to choose from," Sultana said.
Employers' bodies had also said that the public sector has poached a lot of talent from the private sector to strengthen itself, yet weaken the private service.
Asked about this, Sultana said that one common piece of feedback his office receives is that private companies are often able to offer higher salaries.
"As I've mentioned, the labour market today is an employee-driven market. Both the private and public sectors must continuously strive to attract and retain the best talent," he said.
Sultana said that this dynamic is not unique to Malta, but it is a normal trend being observed globally.
"In an employee-driven market, employees choose employers not just for money, but for the whole work life balance aspect," Sultana said.
Government is outsourcing some services to the private sector. Asked if this means that there are shortcomings in the public sector, Sultana said that given the "incredible" economic success Malta is experiencing, an achievement he considered "remarkable" for a small country, and the fact that the country has "the fastest-growing economy in Europe," it is natural that some sectors will see fewer Maltese employees available.
On outsourcing, Sultana said that the public service works closely with private sector.
"What matters most is finding the right balance to meet the needs of both the public and private sectors as effectively as possible," Sultana said.
The public service collective agreement encourages workers to obtain their diplomas, degrees and masters, and their salaries would increase once they obtained such qualifications.
At the same time, two government Ministers - Clayton Bartolo and Clint Camilleri - were found to have breached ethical standards after granting the wife of one of them a top-paid consultancy job, of which she was not qualified for, nor had the expertise.
Sultana was asked how public sector workers can believe in meritocracy when such incidents happen, to which he said their employees believe in meritocracy because the public administration has clear, established rules outlines in the Public Service Management Code.
"It is based on these rules that we can assess whether any shortcomings have occurred. Today, various oversight bodies, such as the National Audit Office (NAO), the Commissioner for Standards, the Ombudsman, and even the Courts, investigate and determine whether there has been any violation of these guidelines," Sultana added.
Sultana said that the public administration remains committed to ensuring that their manuals provide the best possible guidance for management.
"Our employees should take pride in the tangible results we are achieving, not just in words," Sultana said.
He said that 92% of the Auditor General's recommendations were accepted and acted upon, and 84% of the budget measures for this year have been successfully implemented.
"These outcomes demonstrate that we have strong, effective structures in place," Sultana said.
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