The Diplomat
The Central Independent Trade Union and Civil Servants (CSIF) considers that the new Regulation of the Diplomatic Career that is being finalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not solve the “obscurantism” that, in its opinion, surrounds this body.
CSIF complains, in a statement, that the text is not transparent and points out that it prevents the access of trade unions to the bodies that decide on promotions, transfers and assignment.
The union says it has been disappointed in its expectations, since “this proposal has not been negotiated with workers’ representatives and does not update or clarify the previous regulations”, as it has been demanding from the Ministry for years.
CSIF criticizes that the regulation “maintains a system of free designation of positions that is not very transparent, that is ambiguous, does not include a clear model of access by merit and capacity and does not guarantee the principles of transparency and publicity”.
And in particular, it expresses its disagreement with the fact that, in the Board of the Diplomatic Career, an advisory body of Foreign Affairs on matters related to the regime of promotions and the provision of jobs abroad, “there are no union representatives”, which, according to the union, “will continue to promote arbitrariness and secrecy in the Administration”.
As for the labor personnel working abroad, it denounces that the Foreign Office has still not asked the Civil Service to convene the Technical Commission to adopt a new labor agreement for the staff within the European Union, together with another agreement that regulates the working conditions of this personnel outside the EU.
According to CSIF, there is currently no professional classification of labor personnel abroad by groups and categories, which causes “a great inequality in salaries, depending on the countries”.
In total, there are more than 7,000 workers of Spanish public bodies and institutions around the world, including embassy staff, consulates, the AECID or the Cervantes Institute, and who suffer situations of this type, says the union.
