The bill for the modernization of EFKA is in public consultation

The bill for the modernization of EFKA is posted today and for 15 days in public consultation, which aims to improve the operation of one of the largest public organizations in the country, with which 6.5 million citizens deal daily (2.5 million retirees and 4 million employees) and collects – based on the reports of the Ombudsman – 48% of the complaints concerning the wider public sector.

The basic provisions of the bill

The regulations of the bill concern the improvement of the efficiency of EFKA, the strengthening of the reward and the accountability of the employees, the increase of the flexibility and the speed of the institution and the better utilization and management of its real estate. More specifically:

1. The possibility of hiring General Managers and Directors with a three-year term (and the possibility of one-time renewal) from both the public and the private sector is foreseen. The recruitment will be done through transparent procedures (public announcement by decision of the Governor of e-EFKA), partnership of ASEP and incentives to attract to the top ranks with high level executives, able to meet the size of the Organization and the challenges of.

2. A productivity reward system is defined throughout the EFKA. Starting from the functions of the settlement of pensions and the service of the citizens, the premium will be connected with specific objectives that can be set according to the needs per General Directorate, depending on the object and the priorities of the Institution. In this way, the improvement of the governance system of EFKA is sought on the basis of measurable objectives that will define the daily operation of all levels of the Organization and will function as a reference point for the rewarding of employees. However, this system is accompanied by a corresponding control and accountability system as described below.

3. Complaints concerning EFKA are dealt with more systematically through the establishment of an independent Internal Investigation Unit headed by a former senior judge (Attorney General of the Supreme Court). The Unit will be in charge of the immediate investigation of complaints and requests and the performance of ex-officio checks (eg in case of excessive delays) and will have powers corresponding to those of the National Transparency Authority. If the conclusion of the unit reveals the commission of a disciplinary offense, then the head of the Unit will order the exercise of disciplinary proceedings, which will be binding on the competent disciplinary bodies.

4. Disciplinary proceedings are expedited, taking into account that the procedures in the Disciplinary Boards of EFKA currently have an average completion time of 2 years. In particular, the disciplinary action will be taken in one month (instead of 3 months) and will be completed in one month from the call for apology (instead of 2 months). As part of the strengthening of the impartiality of the audits, the SADs will be carried out compulsorily by an employee of another Ministry and will be completed in one month. The Disciplinary Council of EFKA will be composed of three members (judicial president, assistant to the Legal Council of the State and a permanent employee outside the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs), without the participation of the elected representatives of EFKA employees. He will be responsible for all cases that start after the publication of the law and for the pending proceedings, as long as they have not been brought to trial. The purpose of speeding up disciplinary proceedings is to strengthen the accountability of employees, so that it is clear that along with the reward for achieving goals, they will be accountable for the execution of their work.

5. The procurement system becomes more flexible to put an end to phenomena such as the untimely supply of consumables, spare parts and the difficulty of replacing obsolete equipment (eg PCs, air conditioners, etc.). In the same logic of increasing speed and flexibility, a series of obsolete provisions are abolished, which provide for time-consuming approval procedures by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs for EFKA-related expenditures (approval for the expediency of outsourcing computer services, maintenance work, etc.). the action of the administration.

6. The utilization of the real estate of EFKA is promoted through the establishment of a Special Purpose Company entitled “Real Estate Company e-EFKA” which will be subject to a strict corporate governance framework with increased guarantees of transparency and accountability, but also the possibility of utilizing the good practices of the private sector for the management of its real estate portfolio. It is indicative that the Agency has 400 properties across the country, with a total objective value of over 1 billion euros and at least 20% – which concerns high value properties – remains completely unused, resulting in the loss of resources and revenues for the insurance system. The more active management of EFKA real estate through the new company can significantly contribute to the increase of the resources of the insurance system.

The proposed regulations are aimed at EFKA:

– To meet the needs, but also the demands of the citizens for European level service and rapid award of pensions

– To gain more flexibility and administrative autonomy for immediate decision making

– To become fairer by really rewarding good employees and intensifying control over those who do not do their job well

Better manage human resources by utilizing human resources from both the private sector and

– To make more efficient use of its huge real estate, for the benefit of the country’s insurance system

The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Kostis Hatzidakis, stated: “The bill that we are presenting today for public consultation serves our goal for a new EFKA of European standards that will be more efficient, more productive and, above all, more friendly to the insured and that will not remind EFKA of chronic pathogens, starring in complaints to the Ombudsman and in stories of daily madness and suffering.It is known of course that in the last year we have taken a number of initiatives, the most important of which led to a record number of decisions on the award of pensions (225,000) and this for the Unique Service Number 1555. However, it is obvious that for EFKA – which is the most problematic organization of the State – these are not enough, we need an even more substantial intervention, on a more permanent basis. By attracting a high level of executives from both the public and the the private sector. With better staffing of the Organization. With a system of incentives and controls for employees. By accelerating supplies. By utilizing real estate. All these are necessary arrangements that will make the daily life of the employees better, but above all much better the service of the insured which is also the big demand. The insured is not a servant of the administration. The administration must serve the insured! ”

See the plan in the right column “Related Files”.