When the coalition led by Donald Tusk took power in December 2023, the Chancellery of the Prime Minister (KPRM) was to have a slimming of the structure and a review of employment. However, the promised simplification in posts, in the face of the alarming state of the budget, proved to be nothing more than a declaration and the reality presented itself in a completely different light.
An alarming financial situation
At the beginning of Tusk's rule, KPRM faced serious financial problems. Jan Grabić, then head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, pointed out that the budget situation was difficult, pointing out that "3 million PLN was missing for wage payments for employees". Grabić accused erstwhile management, accusing them of overemployment and violating the discipline of public finances. “We will examine who precisely is liable for this fact,” said Gracić.
Reduction promises
In consequence to financial challenges, Grabiec declared the request to reduce the number of posts in the NRP by 10%. “Of course, not overnight. It is simply a substance of looking at where positions are unnecessary and who is not qualified," he said on the ZET radio in January 2024. These words suggested that restrictions on employment were to be crucial and immediate.
Reality of excessive bureaucracy
However, reality proved to be different. According to the data provided by the “Fact”, between 13 December 2023 and 10 June 2024 the NAP employed as many as 95 fresh employees. The persons employed were found in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Department for Equal Treatment and the Department of elder Policy.
In addition, it has been revealed that “21 people were employed in a group of government managers in the NRPM and political advisers and assistants” during the period under consideration. This group included: Prime Minister, 2 Vice-Presidents of the Council of Ministers, 7 ministers, 3 state secretaries, 4 Undersecretaries of State, Chief of civilian Service, Head of the Political Cabinet of the Prime Minister and 2 chief advisers of the Prime Minister – as indicated by Grzegorz Karpiński, Deputy Chief of the National Public Administration, in consequence to the parliamentary interpelation.
Expensive exemptions
Moreover, despite the declaration of simplification of posts, the "Fact" informs about the dismissal of 39 employees of the NRPM and 18 members of the government. The full cost of wages during the announcement period for redundant workers amounted to over PLN 2 million, according to Grzegorz Karpiński's answer to the parliamentary interpelling.
Summary
The situation in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister casts a shadow on promises of efficiency and savings, which were to be the key point of the fresh government's agenda. Despite loud declarations of the request for occupation cuts, the reality has resulted in a crucial increase in the number of workers and costly expenses associated with their dismissals. Faced with specified divergences between announcements and reality, the question remains about the further improvement of the situation and the real effectiveness of the actions taken by the current administration.
Daniel Głogowski
Expert in his field – Publicist, author and social activist. The first articles were published in 1999 for global publishers. For more than 30 years, he has gained his experience through cooperation with the largest editorial offices. In his articles, he seeks to address controversial topics and present first viewpoints that allowed for a deeper knowing of the issues discussed.
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