untitled design

What will EFKA be like in 2022- What is changing

Of Dimitris Katsaganis

With managers from the private sector, transfer of responsibilities to the commander, recruitment of new staff, productivity bonus, Internal Affairs unit, faster disciplinary procedures, more flexible procurement system and Special Purpose Company for the utilization of e-EFKA real estate will operate super-player from 2022.

These changes are provided for in the bill which was presented yesterday by the Minister Of Labor and Social Affairs, Mr. Kostis Hatzidakis.

As announced by Mr. Hatzidakis, the text of the bill will be given for public consultation in the next few days, after some technical issues are settled, after consultation with the relevant ministries.

The goal is to be voted by the Plenary Session of the Parliament within January 2022. The focus is on eight major interventions that radically change the operation of EFKA:

Newly selected Executives from public and private sector

Specifically, it is possible to hire selected Executives with three-year contracts with the possibility of renewal once, both from the public and the private sector with transparent procedures (Public Announcement), participation of EFKA executives, the rest of the public and private sector and a special system additional rewards based on goals.

In this way, the aim is to attract the best executives from the public or private sector, with the aim of making the Organization more efficient.

New governance model for EFKA, with a new Organization Chart

The aim is to improve its operation at all levels of administration. A new procedure for the appointment of a Governor and Deputy Governors is foreseen, with the election of the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs and a previous opinion of the Parliamentary Institutions and Transparency Committee.

There will be a redesign of the responsibilities of the Board of Directors with the transfer of responsibilities of the Board of Directors to the Governor, the Deputy Governors and the General Managers in order to avoid micromanagement.

A new Organization Chart will be drawn up – in collaboration with a specialized consultant – to deal with the malfunctions from the temporary merger of the funds in EFKA, for the better monitoring of the regional services, etc.

Immediate recruitment of permanent and temporary staff

In particular, recruitment procedures for 500 permanent employees within the first half of 2022 (mainly by runners of previous ASEP competitions) will begin immediately – in consultation with the Ministry of Interior.

There will be prioritization of recruitments according to targeted needs (IT, Administrative-Finance).

It is also planned to immediately hire 100 employees with project contracts to speed up the award of pensions.

Establishment of productivity premiums for employees.

The premium will be linked to specific measurable targets (and weights) that will be set per General Directorate, depending on the subject and the priorities of the Agency. The payment of the pension clearance bonus (which has already been introduced) is amended to make it more linked to the results of the rapporteurs’ work and more proportionate.

There is also a premium payment linked to the results of their work to the employees who work in the back office of the call center.

Establishment of a new Internal Affairs Unit for immediate investigation of citizens’ complaints

A new Internal Affairs Unit is set up, headed by a former senior judge (eg Attorney General of the Supreme Court), in charge of the immediate investigation of complaints and requests and the conduct of ex-officio checks (eg in case of excessive delays), in collaboration with the National Authority Transparency and powers corresponding to it.

If the Unit’s finding results in disciplinary action, this will bind the disciplinary bodies.

The aim is to reverse the current situation, as today hundreds of citizens’ complaints are not addressed and evaluated in a timely manner.

Faster and more efficient disciplinary process

Shorter deadlines are foreseen for the disciplinary proceedings, given that the proceedings in the Disciplinary Boards are usually “dragged” for years and that at the present stage 115 audits are pending, of which 97 are still in the Primary Boards, with an average completion time of 2 years. .

In particular, the exercise of disciplinary action will take place in 1 month (instead of 3 months) and will be completed within one month from the call for an apology (instead of 2 months).

In the context of strengthening the impartiality of audits, SADs will be carried out compulsorily by an employee of another Ministry.

The Disciplinary Council will be composed of three members (judicial president, assistant NSC and permanent employee outside the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs), with the abolition of the participation of elected representatives of EFKA employees.

More flexible procurement system

The aim is to put an end to phenomena such as the untimely supply of consumables, spare parts and the difficulty of replacing obsolete equipment (eg computers, air conditioners, etc.).

Among other things, an exception is introduced from the procedures of law 4412/2016 -within the limits set by the European directive- for simpler procedures for the assignment of works and supplies and the obsolete and time-consuming approval procedures by the Ministry for expenditures related to EFKA are abolished, such as for example the approval for the expediency of outsourcing computer services, maintenance work, etc.

Utilization of the real estate of e-EFKA through the establishment of a Special Purpose Company

It is indicative that the Agency has 400 properties throughout the country, with a total objective value of over 1 billion euros and at least 20% – which concerns high value properties – remains completely unused.

It is foreseen the establishment of a Special Purpose Company for the utilization and management of the real estate, with separation of the real estates for private use and for utilization.

The company will be subject to a strict corporate governance framework with increased guarantees of transparency and accountability, but also the ability to utilize the good practices of the private sector to manage its real estate portfolio.

K. Hatzidakis: We utilize policies that have been implemented in the public sector in our country

The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Kostis Hatzidakis, stated that “EFKA is the biggest wound of the Greek State. The government cannot remain indifferent to this situation. Remedies are not enough, firefighting solutions are not enough.

We have already made a number of changes which have a positive impact on the rate of issuance of pensions, as this year we will exceed two hundred thousand decisions in relation to the main pensions, which is an all-time record.

But that is not enough for us. We are interested in EFKA changing gears. To really become a social tool, a citizen-friendly organization. We utilize ideas and policies that have been implemented in other European countries or have progressed successfully in the private sector, but also in the public sector in our country with a more typical example PPC.

We respect the uniqueness of EFKA as a Legal Entity under Public Law, but that is no reason not to serve the citizens. EFKA must become an organization that meets the demands of Greek citizens.

This is not going to be done with wishes. “Specific measures are needed which establish incentives and sanctions for employees and at the same time promote sections of administrative modernization in order to make EFKA new, more efficient, more productive and, above all, friendlier to the insured.”

The Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Panos Tsakloglou noted that the effort made to improve the services provided by EFKA is ongoing.

The organization must meet the needs and requirements of citizens for a high level of service at all levels of operation. The bill presented today at the Council of Ministers attempts to provide greater flexibility and administrative autonomy to the Agency and the introduction of modern methods of governance.

It is foreseen the provision of appropriate incentives to the staff and the executives, the rational organization of the Agency, the renewal and strengthening of its staff and the utilization of its real estate.

Our goal is the unified insurance body of the country to become a modern public service that will consistently meet the ever-increasing demands of its role. “A lot has been done, but even more needs to be done.”

.

Source From: Capital

You may also like

Get the latest

Stay Informed: Get the Latest Updates and Insights

 

Most popular