NIPAG Director, Professor Jan Ziekow, appeared as a guest on Deutschlandfunk Kultur’s ‘Tacheles’ programme: Focus on the future of the professional civil service

Should civil servants be included in the statutory pension and health insurance schemes? Which government functions require a career civil service, and what role does civil servant status play in attracting qualified professionals? NIPAG Director Prof. Jan Ziekow discusses these and other questions in the latest episode of the Deutschlandfunk Kultur series ‘Tacheles’.

Should civil servants be included in the statutory pension and health insurance schemes in future? Which government functions require a special status under public law? And does the career civil service remain a key factor in keeping the public sector attractive in the competition for qualified professionals?

The latest episode of the “Tacheles” podcast from Deutschlandfunk Kultur addresses these and other questions, featuring a guest appearance by the Director of the National Institute for Public Administration Germany (NIPAG), Professor Jan Ziekow. 

The discussion examines the future of the civil service from various perspectives. On the one hand, it focuses on the specific reform debate concerning the inclusion of civil servants in the statutory pension and health insurance schemes. It examines the financial, legal and institutional aspects of a possible change to the system. It also focuses on fundamental questions concerning the organisation of the state and personnel policy. The discussion centres on which core state functions might continue to require a career civil service in the future, and what role civil servant status plays in ensuring the state’s ability to function. The focus here is, in particular, on ensuring the neutrality, continuity and reliability of government action.

Another key focus of the discussion is the attractiveness of the civil service as an employer. In view of the growing shortage of skilled workers, the question arises as to whether civil servant status remains an important tool for recruiting and retaining staff, or whether alternative models would be suitable for meeting the long-term staffing needs of the administration and the state.

The interview thus provides important insights into the current debate on the future of the civil service and the modernisation of state institutions. 

You can listen to the full interview here. (In German only)