World Public Service Day: Europe’s public sector needs strengthening

June 23rd is United Nations Public Service Day, a global celebration of those essential workers that ensure basic service provision for strong, resilient, well-functioning societies.

Three years into the worst pandemic of the century, one year and a half into the Russian invasion of Ukraine generating waves of refugees, and amidst a climate crisis, the need to strengthen public services at all levels – EU, national, regional and local – is more pressing than ever.

Public services receive and integrate refugees, they deliver health care, combat natural disasters, protect citizens, and educate our children.

To be resilient and be able to meet the crises and challenges that we currently experience, they need adequate facilities, equipment and sufficient staff with decent working conditions and pay – as well as overall better public support and appreciation.

The public services workforce across Europe is providing vital services for our communities; but this remains often unnoticed. Too many are underpaid, suffer from difficult working conditions, lack proper equipment and face increasing work intensities because their offices are chronically understaffed.

In light of the current megatrends of our century – such as demography and climate change -, the pressure on public service delivery will further increase; while understaffing and underinvestment limit our readiness to face and respond to future crises.

It is now more important than ever to prioritise public spending for essential societal pillars which support an ageing Europe to transition to a fair, green and digital economy.

CESI is advocating a position in favour of high accessible, available and high quality essential services, which require investments both in human resources and access to equipment/ better working conditions. As long as many essential services are understaffed while working conditions are precarious, quality services cannot be delivered.

Klaus Heeger, CESI Secretary-General said: “We need to honour our public employees for their devotion, contributions and excellent work which often goes above and beyond the call of duty. European countries must ‘walk the talk’ and reaffirm their commitment to building well functioning and inclusive societies by making the necessary investments to address understaffing and poor working conditions of certain public sector employees in Europe.”