Budget savings, or politicization of low level civil service directors?

Economy Minister Jerzy Hausner has proposed the liquidation of the posts of General Director in public offices and ministries employing less than 200 people, as part of the cost cutting program. Such an amendment to the Civil Service Law was recommended yesterday by the head of the Prime Minister's Office, Marek Wagner. "This would lead to a change in the functioning of the civil service. If such an amendment will be accepted then the functions of officials not dependent on any political party would be taken over by politicians," said Jan Pastwa, the head of civil service. Hausner emphasized that this change would save the budget about zł. 2 million annually. However, it would only effect public offices as none of the ministries currently employ less than 200 people. Jan Pastwa argues that such savings are not significant, as it is only a tiny fraction of the total civil service wage bill. Therefore he proposed that their jobs be saved and their wages be reduced. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, A3) A.K.