Catalonia’s government has approved a draft law to overhaul public sector leadership. Senior officials may soon face seven-year renewable contracts, performance-based pay, and stricter evaluations. The reform aims to boost accountability and retain talent.
The Catalan government has approved a draft law that could fundamentally change how senior public sector positions are filled and managed. Under the new proposal, top officials in Catalonia would be appointed on renewable seven-year contracts, with part of their salary tied to performance incentives and ongoing evaluations. The move is designed to modernize the administration, encourage accountability, and help retain skilled professionals as the region faces a generational shift in its public workforce.
The initiative, led by Presidency Minister Albert Dalmau, is the first of its kind in Catalonia and now heads to the regional parliament for debate. Government spokesperson Sílvia Paneque expressed confidence that the draft law will receive broad support from parliamentary groups, noting that most professional and business associations in Catalonia have already backed the measure. The reform is seen as a key step in the broader plan to strengthen good governance and ensure the public sector can adapt to future challenges.
One of the most significant changes is the introduction of an independent selection tribunal, which will propose a shortlist of three candidates for each senior role. This aims to depoliticize appointments and ensure that only the most qualified candidates are considered. Those selected for management and institutional leadership positions will be eligible for additional compensation based on their responsibilities and the achievement of specific objectives. The government also plans to introduce continuous performance reviews, making transparency and measurable results central to the new system.
Paneque highlighted that the reform will overhaul not just recruitment, but also evaluation criteria and pay structures. She emphasized that contracts will be linked to clear objectives and regular assessments, with transparency as a guiding principle. Once the law is in place, a new statute for professional public management will be developed to further define the framework.
The push for reform began when Salvador Illa took office, launching a comprehensive plan with 17 measures to transform the public administration. An expert commission outlined 50 concrete proposals, some of which have already been implemented, such as banning remote work for senior officials and removing appointment requirements to speed up administrative processes. These changes reflect a broader trend in Spain, where public sector modernization is increasingly seen as essential for effective governance. In a related development, efforts to streamline administrative procedures have also been reported in other regions, as seen when Spanish authorities mobilized extranjería offices to address a surge in migration cases.
Contextually, Catalonia’s move aligns with ongoing debates across Spain about how to make public institutions more efficient and responsive. The introduction of fixed-term contracts and performance-based pay for senior officials is relatively rare in Spanish regional administrations, where permanent appointments have long been the norm. By shifting to a model that emphasizes accountability and measurable outcomes, Catalonia could set a precedent for other regions considering similar reforms. The government’s focus on generational renewal also addresses concerns about an aging public workforce and the need to attract new talent. If the law passes, it may prompt further changes in how public sector leadership is structured throughout Spain.
