Civil servants who are employed by the central government will soon take a new oath. It emphasizes more clearly that civil servants in their work must treat all people on the basis of “justice, equality and respect”. It also makes it clearer that civil servants work in the general interest of society, writes Interior Minister Hanke Bruins Slot in a letter to the House of Representatives.
“The new oath clarifies what values ​​and what behaviors accompany it,” says Bruins Slot, referring to the work of civil servants. The new oath is also written in “understandable and recognizable language”. This also makes it easier for civil servants to enter discussions about it,’ says the minister. The desire to modernize the oath came from the House, but civil servants also find the current wording of the oath outdated and difficult to understand, according to Bruins Slot.
Contribute to open government
In taking the new oath, officials promise that they were not bribed to get the job, that they provided honest information, and that they did not withhold anything “that may be important to this office,” the new oath says. He also says civil servants contribute to “open government,” but also that they know they must “keep confidential information secret.” The current oath states more explicitly that civil servants cannot “leak”. Government officials now swear or promise “that matters of which I am privy to confidential knowledge by virtue of my position or which I must acknowledge to be confidential, shall be kept secret from others other than those persons to whom I am obligated to reveal”.
The oath underscores the special nature of working for the government, the ministry said. In their role, civil servants must “weigh interests carefully and advise their ministers.” This also includes hearing if necessary, for example if the policy in practice turns out differently than expected.’
Legal document
The oath is also a legal document. Civil servants who take an oath swear or promise to adhere to strict rules that are part of their “special position”. “People need to be able to trust that the government is honest and trustworthy in its functioning.”
A change in the law is required for the new oath. It is expected to be able to be used from 1 January 2024. All civil servants are required to take an oath when entering national government service.
Source: BNR
Fernando Dowling is an author and political journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. He has a deep understanding of the political landscape and a passion for analyzing the latest political trends and news.
