Concerns are mounting over proposals to restrict the status of civil servants in Germany, with the German Civil Servants Association issuing a stark warning against potential changes. Volker Geyer, the association’s chairman, emphasized the necessity of a functional state, highlighting widespread personnel shortages within the public sector. “We need a state capable of action” Geyer stated in an interview with MDR Aktuell, adding that the current lack of staff is a significant challenge.
The warning follows a proposal by Carsten Linnemann, General Secretary of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), suggesting a shift in the civil service recruitment policy. Linnemann’s plan would limit the offering of permanent civil servant positions to areas involving sovereign duties, such as the police, justice system, customs and financial administration. Under the proposal, positions in general administrative areas, including teaching roles, would no longer be eligible for civil servant status.
The Civil Servants Association argues that such restrictive measures would be counterproductive, potentially exacerbating the existing staff deficits. The association cites a current shortage of approximately 570,000 public sector employees, suggesting that limiting the appeal of civil service roles would only worsen the situation. The debate underscores a broader discussion about workforce needs and the future of the public sector in Germany.