The maneuvers of the Geneva Council of State on the status of civil servants raise questions

Published on June 13, 2024 at 06:51. / Modified on June 13, 2024 at 8:08 p.m.

“Noise in the east, attack in the west”: the Council of State was perhaps inspired by this Chinese war stratagem which advocates sowing confusion among its adversaries in order to attack at an opportune moment. The withdrawal on May 30, without fanfare, of the bill modifying the rules on state personnel raises questions. The left fears a stratagem to break up the offensives against the status of civil servants while the right hopes for a more ambitious relaxation of the framework which regulates the relationship between the State and its collaborators. As for the unions and associations of state executives, they deplore not having been warned while they took part in the discussions.

The bill has been the subject of fierce negotiations for two years between employee associations, unions and the State. It is part of the major reforms defended by Nathalie Fontanet, State Councilor in charge of Finance and Human Resources. The magistrate, however, did not need to launch into the battle: she was overtaken by the Grand Council which approved a project from the Center in January. The latter removes the obligation for the State to reinstate unfairly dismissed employees and creates a legal basis in favor of departure agreements. These are precisely two essential elements of the revision proposed by the Council of State. These changes came into force after defenders of civil servants failed to bring about a referendum.

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