The Ministry of Public Administration (MPA) announced today that it is publishing for public debate the Draft Law on Local Officials, Civil Servants and Employees - the first normative text of this kind in the history of Montenegro.
"With this law, we continue the fundamental reform of local self-government, with a clear goal: creating an efficient, optimized and purposeful local administration, in the service of citizens and the development of communities. Our vision is a local administration that not only provides quality services, but also becomes a driver of development, a bearer of trust and a pillar of society. An administration that creates and retains the most important personnel in its communities, recognizes their values and gives them the space to change communities for the better," emphasized Minister of Public Administration Maraš Dukaj.
The MPA statement states that by drafting this law:
- recognized the specificities of the local system and regulated the position of local officials,
- define the municipal manager as a public official – because his role in coordinating key strategic processes, such as the development and implementation of the municipal strategic development plan, digital transformation and withdrawal of EU funds, requires a special status and a stronger institutional foundation,
- harmonize employment conditions with the state level, thereby ensuring uniform standards in public administration and eliminating legal inconsistencies,
- introduced flexible mechanisms such as simpler engagement of municipal police officers during the tourist season and experts for EU projects, which gives local communities the ability to respond quickly to real challenges,
- proposed scholarships for scarce personnel, to ensure that the most talented young people remain in their communities and build their future,
- recognized the need for functional job analyses, so that every employment is based on real needs and proven data,
- opened the way for an internal labor market and greater employee mobility, thus ensuring optimization and more efficient use of existing resources.
"With this law, we are sending a clear message: local self-government must be a support and partner for citizens, the economy and civil society. This can only be achieved with strong human resources. We invite all interested parties to join the public debate and contribute with their comments to shaping solutions that will strengthen the foundations of modern, responsible and European local self-government in Montenegro," the MPA statement reads.
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