Spanish Civil Service Structure and Access

Posted on Apr 25, 2025 in Law

Civil Service under Law 30/1984

The civil service, under Law 30/1984 of 2 August on Reform Measures for Public Service, is one of the priority policy objectives of the government program: the reform of Public Administration. The reform of the Civil Service law is one of its basic aspects.

The scope of the measures concerns:

  • The staff of the Civil Administration of the State and its Autonomous Agencies.
  • Civilian personnel serving the military administration and its Autonomous Agencies.

Personnel of the Civil Service include:

  • The Government
  • The Ministry of the Presidency
  • The Superior Council of Civil Service

Government Role in Civil Service

The Government directs staff policy and exercises executive and regulatory powers in relation to public service in the Administration.

The Government is responsible for:

  • Establishing guidelines for exercising its responsibility regarding staff in charge of the State Administration.
  • Determining instructions to be observed by representatives of the State Administration regarding negotiation with the union representation of public officials and their conditions of employment, as well as the validity and effectiveness of agreements reached by express and formal approval, establishing conditions of employment for cases where there is no agreement on the negotiation.
  • Establishing instructions to be followed by the representation of the State Administration in collective bargaining with staff subject to labor law annually.
  • Establishing standards and guidelines for the implementation of the remuneration of public officials and State staff.
  • Approving, after deliberation by the Superior Council of Civil Service, the criteria for program coordination of personnel needs of medium and long-term government plans and employment offers.
  • Approving the staff structure of the State Administration, the ranges of levels of posts of officials of other public bodies.
  • Exercise of legally attributed powers.

Ministry of the Presidency Responsibilities

Its responsibilities are:

  • The overall development, coordination, and monitoring of the implementation of the Government’s policy on staff at the service of the State Administration.
  • Proposing draft legislation for the System of Statutory Civil Servants.
  • Promoting, coordinating, and, at times, carrying out the plans, measures, and actions to improve performance in service, training, and promotion of personnel.
  • Ensuring State Administration bodies comply with staff regulations.

Superior Council of Civil Service

The Superior Council of Civil Service is the superior collegiate body for coordination and consultation.

It is responsible for:

  • Reporting within two months to the Government, the Councils of Government of the Autonomous Communities, or local councils through their representatives on provisions or decisions on personnel and draft laws.
  • Adopting draft measures to improve the organization, working conditions, performance, and social consideration of personnel.
  • Taking necessary measures relating to personnel records, access systems, job lists, salaries, approval of staff, and employment supply.
  • Drafting rules of organization and operation.

Composition of the Superior Council

The composition includes representatives from:

  • State Administration:
    • The Minister of the Presidency, who will be the President of the Council.
    • The Secretary of State for Public Administration, who will be the Vice-President.
    • The Secretary of State for Finance.
    • The Secretaries of State of all Ministries.
    • The Secretary General of the Superior Council of Civil Service.
  • Autonomous Communities: A representative from each of the 17 Autonomous Communities.
  • Local Corporations: 17 representatives of their staff.
  • Unions: 17 representatives nominated by unions.

Access to the Civil Service

Personnel Selection Process

Government staff (civil servants and labor personnel) are selected, according to their public job, through a public tender system, opposition, or competition-opposition to ensure the constitutional principles of equality, merit, and capacity, as well as publicity.

The Government will regulate the composition and functioning of the selection bodies, ensuring the expertise of the members.

The National Institute of Public Administration is responsible for the coordination, monitoring, and, where appropriate, conducting selection courses, staff training, and personnel development.