The test of civil service reform is not the articles, but preserving the independence of civil servants and the credibility of the state, writes Kaia Vask.

The government says the new draft Civil Service Act promises greater flexibility and competitiveness, but it is not just about the nuances of work organisation. If civil servants' employment relationships become fixed-term, something more is at stake: the credibility of the state and the independence of civil servants.

The role of a public official is not comparable to that of a private sector employee. There, greater collectively negotiated flexibility may be economically justified, but in the civil service it means breaking the independence of the official. If an official is constantly faced with the end of his or her term of office, he or she will lose the courage to take decisions that may be inconvenient for the authorities but are essential for the good of society.

Illimar Pärnamägi rightly pointed out in a commentary on the ERR portal that the independent civil service is not just part of the workforce, but a pillar of constitutional order. If this pillar is weakened, the stability of the entire state will falter.

Reform without the involvement of civil servants is a caricature of democracy

It is particularly disturbing that trade unions and civil servants were not involved in the drafting. Legislative changes that significantly alter the working conditions of officials are made without consulting them.

"Labour peace and trust cannot be built if those affected by reform are not seen as worthy of a seat at the table."
This is not dialogue or partnership, but unilateral dictatorship. When the state talks about flexibility but at the same time excludes trade unions, as representatives of officials and workers, from the debate, it is hypocritical. Labour peace and trust cannot be built if those affected by reform are not seen as worthy of a seat at the table.

This is a question of principle: do we live in a country where workers' voices count, or in a country where decisions are made in the back room?

Nordic countries have chosen a flexible path with independence for officials

Estonia does not need to invent the bicycle. The Nordic experience shows that civil service reform can be done in a way that flexibility and independence go hand in hand. There, the classic distinction between civil servants and contract workers is disappearing, but this has not led to chaos or strike waves.

On the contrary, strong trade unions, clear collective agreements and a balanced right to strike have created lasting industrial peace. A strong trade union movement is not about continuous strikes, but about stable agreements that give both workers and the state lasting security.

Flexible management does not therefore have to mean the dismantling of legal protection for officials. The Nordic model proves that this is possible.

Preserving the credibility of the state will be the test of reform

The real challenge of civil service reform is not in the articles or the length of tenure. It lies in trust. Can civil servants remain independent and stand up for citizens' interests? Will the state be able to build a partnership with its civil servants, or will it continue to take decisions without listening to them?

When officials become political surrogates, it's not just them who lose, we all lose. Citizens will lose confidence that the institutions of the state are impartial and trustworthy. This is a price Estonia cannot afford.

The real yardstick for civil service reform is not slogans about flexibility and competitiveness, but about the independence of civil servants and the freedom to work. Estonia faces a choice between building a Nordic model where civil servants' rights and the interests of the state are balanced, or continuing along a path where unions are flat-lined and civil servants become political appointees.

The first path strengthens the country's credibility, the second undermines it. The question is simple: do we want a state that stands by its citizens, or a state where civil servants fulfil temporary roles to political orders? The answer to this question will determine the kind of Estonia we will live in in the future.