Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has voiced his opposition to re-examining the practice of offering civil service positions to state employees. Speaking to television broadcaster Welt on Friday, Dobrindt asserted the importance of the civil service to the nation’s stability, suggesting a broad discussion on potential cost-saving measures isn’t necessary.
Dobrindt indicated that individual federal states are responsible for managing their own personnel policies. However, he emphasized the federal government’s satisfaction with its current staffing levels across administrative bodies, including the federal police and security forces, stating there’s no perceived need for change.
The comments come amidst criticism from taxpayer advocacy groups and within the governing Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The Federation of Taxpayers and CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann have argued that the widespread offering of civil service positions contributes to significant long-term pension liabilities and undermines the financial stability of statutory pension and health insurance systems by reducing their overall revenue base. Their argument centers on the potential for a more flexible workforce and a broader contribution to these systems.
