Due to the fact that not everyday new laws are being implemented, both companies and private individuals are forced to deal with a slow-processing administrative system. When old and inefficient procedures are not being abolished, people find themselves pushing through a gruelling bureaucratic chain of proceedings needed for the issue of the simplest permits or licenses. This needs to change.
Current State of the Public Sector – How it Begins
The first steps towards proper administrative modernization, is downsizing the state sector. Human labour is also a resource that needs to be properly allocated. After almost half of the administrative staff were released, the next step for the reforms had to take place. To create savings for both the state and businesses, technology investment is vital. This is the reason why the senior government minister in charge of reforms has measured that the administration costs will require over €470 million.
Training Public Administration Staff – Why and Where
A newly appointed staff that will operate in a modernized administrative environment will need to be hired. Should older staff apply for the job positions, they will need to re-qualify in order to meet the newly established requirements put forth by the EU. This can be done in several educational institutions, which are accredited and recognized by the governing body of the European Union.
The National Institute of Administration
Spelled in Portuguese as “Instituto Nacional de Administracao”, this education establishment provides education and qualification in six main areas – staff development, European Union subjects, Information system and technologies, languages, planning and pedagogy, and civil servants general training. Depending on the chosen programs, they can last from two to four semesters.
Center for Studies and Autarchic Formation
The programs provided here are revolving mainly in the public administration sector. They offer a program in the local administration for civil servants, a program named Urban Administration, and another called Cultural Local Affairs. Other shorter qualification programs include human resource management, informatics, financial management, and public accounting.
Other Education Schools
There are other EU approved centers and school facilities that cover most of the general subjects described above. Some of them can include European Union subjects, while others will not – the important factor is that they will all be heavily focused on providing qualification opportunities for work candidates in the public sector.
Current Issues with Rationalization
One of the challenges presented by the current status of Portugal’s administrative system, is that the rationalization of the system caused a lot of discord among many existing workers. Cutbacks had to be made, and after proper evaluation, it turned out that at least 50% of human resources were actually slowing down the process. Laying off workers did cause some uproar among the public. In the end, the rationalization process actually increased the speed of all administrative processes.
Final Overview of the Modernization Process
Some sectors will require fewer workers, others more. It is clear that new technological standardс need to be present in all areas, and both the Portugal government and EU will focus their attention for the proper modernization of all the elements in the public sector. So far, the predicted percentages and rates of improvement are becoming reality, and it is safe to say that all is going well.