Meritocracy drive in civil service

The Interior Ministry is working on drastic reforms in the public sector to improve efficiency, promote meritocracy, root out corruption and, ultimately serve the public more effectively.

Chief among these initiatives is the provision of incentives to civil servants in posts with a large and taxing workload. These incentives will include not just monetary benefits, but also more leave and a swifter rise up the pay scale.

The aim is for this reward system to turn the public sector into an attractive workplace for people with qualifications and ambitions. 

"The reward mechanism will help to instill a culture of meritocracy in public administration," said Interior Minister Makis Voridis, noting that the current culture is one that equates everyone regardless of merit.

Other initiatives to this end include changes to the staff selection process via the new...