Although they handle more than 1,000 administrative procedures, the New Democracy government treats the Citizen Service Centers almost as if they were the...water carriers of the public administration, the PASOK Public Administration Sector points out in a statement.
As it states, “without adequate staff, safe and dignified working conditions, streamlining, and rewards for employees, not only do they fail to benefit from digitization or the transfer of procedures, but they are burdened with additional tasks that hinder their operations and increase the hardship for both employees and the public.
Consequently, the government’s recent decision to transfer responsibilities from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to the KEPs—without coordination or dialogue—such as driver’s license renewals and vehicle transfers, is certain to create new delays, long lines, and difficulties in serving citizens. That is why we support the protests organized by the Panhellenic Federation of KEP Employees’ Unions (POSEKEP), which begin on July 2 with the aim of providing tangible support to the KEPs through additional staff, resources, and credibility.
This major reform by PASOK, which marked a turning point in the history of public administration and was embraced by society, has repeatedly been recognized internationally as a best practice and continues to serve as a key point of contact and service for citizens provided by the state; cannot be left to the goodwill and self-sacrifice of civil servants.
PASOK is committed, through its program, to the “Sakis Peponis” plan—a major social reform of the state that will ensure transparent and merit-based flows of people, resources, and procedures, restore the 13th-month salary in the public sector, and return the KEPs to the forefront of in-person and digital citizen services”.