Ministries pledge to speed up work of disciplinary councils for 460 pending cases of civil servants

Gazzetta team 30 Σεπτεμβρίου 2015 - 19:07

Greece’s Administrative Reform and Labour ministers announced on Wednesday they will speed up the work of disciplinary councils handling pending cases of hundreds of civil servants accused of crimes or misdemeanors, following a meeting earlier in the day.

Alternate Minister for Administrative Reform Christoforos Vernardakis and his predecessor and current Labour Minister Giorgos Katrougalos said the councils could meet as soon as next week to clear a backlog of 460 cases which were delayed due to the general elections.

The cases are linked to a law drafted by Katrougalos during the previous SYRIZA-ANEL administration, according to which public sector employees cannot be laid off automatically if convicted by civil courts. Those employees whose cases are pending could return to their posts.

Vernardakis said the councils will receive an extension to process the cases before the suspension of those employees is recalled. He also said the biggest delays are found in the health sector so efforts will be made to examine those cases as a priority.

“The order which has been given … is to speed up the convening of the disciplinary councils so as to proceed faster,” the minister said, dismissing claims that the delays are an effort to cover up illegal actions or corruption in the civil service.