56th Government session: Possibility of flexitime and part-time work for civil servants to be regulated

Minister Damir Habijan presented a Decision on the designation of a national competent authority and a single point of contact for interoperability in the public administration and a Decree Proposal on the possibility of flexitime and part-time work in the civil service

The Interoperable Europe Act aims to improve public sector interoperability across the European Union.

"This Decision is to be adopted pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2024/903 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down measures for a high level of public sector interoperability across the Union (Interoperable Europe Act). The Regulation requires each Member State to designate one or more competent authorities for its application", said Minister Habijan.

The purpose of the Decision is to appoint the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation as the national competent authority and single point of contact for interoperability in the public administration.

"The aim is to modernise public administration, facilitate cross-border activities and provide better digital services to citizens and businesses", the Minister said.

As the national competent authority for interoperability, the Ministry will be responsible for: 

• monitoring the implementation of the Regulation;
• coordination with other public authorities; 
• cooperation with the European Commission and other Member States in the field of interoperability.

Flexible working hours and part-time work opportunities in the civil service 

In accordance with EU legislation, the proposed Decree provides for the possibility of flexible working arrangements for working parents or adoptive parents of a child up to the age of eight or a child with disabilities, or for caregivers, in order to ensure their work-life balance.

"The proposed Decree defines flexitime as working time set out in a different schedule compared to the prescribed working time of a state body", the Minister added.

The Decree also lays down the period for which flexitime may be granted, the procedure for granting flexitime and the end of flexitime, it sets out the reasons why a civil servant may be recruited and assigned to a part-time post, and the possibility of retaining part-time employment of a civil servant who meets the requirements for termination of civil service by the force of law on the ground that he/she has reached the age of 65 and has a minimum of 15 years of pensionable service.

"Finally, the Decree prescribes the duty of the head of a state body to guarantee a part-time civil servant the same working conditions as a full-time civil servant performing the same or similar tasks", the Minister concluded.

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