Updated April 12, 11.39am
Hundreds of public service employees on fixed-term contracts will be switched to indefinite contracts under sweeping changes introduced today.
As things stood, many public service positions were issued on a three-year definite contract, which can be extended by a further three years.
However, under the new regulations, positions in the public service outside senior management level will be automatically filled on an indefinite basis after the normal probation period. Those already in such positions will be converted to indefinite status at the end of their probation period.
Only those with an objective reason in their contract will remain on definite contracts.
Principal permanent secretary Mario Cutajar said the previous situation constituted discrimination against public service employees, who effectively faced a three-year probation period compared to the maximum of one year in the private service.
Mr Cutajar said the new regulations, which follow the standardisation of probation across all sectors last year, would help the public service remain competitive and retain its best employees.
During a press briefing earlier today, Mr Cutajar also announced that the new collective agreement for public service employees would be finalised soon, after the expiry of the previous agreement in December, although he declined to indicate a specific timeframe.
He highlighted various other recent changes in the sector, including improvements in Human Resources and financing regulations, and the creation of the Institute for Public Services in collaboration with Mcast and the University of Malta.
Stressing the need to continue creating a sense of belonging and job satisfaction among public sector workers, he noted that the amount of sick leave taken last year was for the first time lower than that in the private sector.
'We will respect contracts' - PN
In a statement, the Nationalist Party said that it would respect civil service contracts if it was elected into government.
"This was a right introduced by the PN into government, and we will be respecting it in full," the PN said, adding that it would also be ensuring those left out of the announced reform were not discriminated against.
The PN said it would also address injustice of private contract workers being paid less than colleagues of theirs employed directly by the civil service, pledging equal pay for equal work.