Cleaning, security staff to be hired for up to 18 months

An amendment was approved by Parliament on Tuesday which allows ministries and other public bodies to hire cleaning and security staff on short-term contracts of up to 18 months, rather than the current eight months. 

The legislation, tabled by the government, means that ministries can announce the vacant positions until the end of next year, fueling speculation that it is a way for the coalition to curry favor before the next general elections.

Although the hirings are due to be made via the Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection (ASEP), the amendment allows the new hirings to remain in the jobs in question until the summer of 2019, which is close to the end of the current government’s four-year term. 

The government is also set to give permanent positions to 2,200 firefighters who have been serving on five-year contracts.

The issue was discussed extensively with the institutions, which finally accepted the government’s request.