Spanish Public Administration: Roles and Processes

Civil Servants (Funcionarios)

Individuals employed in public administration roles, operating under a statutory appointment. This typically involves permanent service and a fixed salary. They may serve the administration on a temporary or statutory basis.

Selection Systems

• Opposition (Oposición): Candidates undergo one or more tests to demonstrate their capacity for the vacant position.
• Contest (Concurso): Candidates are selected based on the assessment of their merits (e.g., experience, qualifications) without competitive examinations.
• Contest-Opposition (Concurso-Oposición): A combined procedure involving both the assessment of merits and the successful completion of specific tests.

Career Progression

Professional Classification

Jobs are classified into 30 levels. Each level corresponds to specific functions and determines the amount received as a destination supplement.

Internal Promotion

This occurs when a civil servant advances from a lower-level body or scale to an immediately higher one.

Selection Process Stages

The typical stages include:

1. Public Notice (Convocatoria)
2. Application Filing
3. Selection Phase (Tests/Assessments)
4. Appointment (including potential practical phases)
5. Personnel Registration
6. Job Assignment

Labor Personnel (Personal Laboral)

Employees hired by the public administration under standard labor laws, distinct from statutory civil servants.

Job Post Information

For each work center, management determines the number and characteristics of positions to be filled by civil servants, temporary staff, or labor personnel. Each job description outlines essential features and the requirements workers must meet for their employment.

Administrative Situations

Civil servants can be in various administrative situations, including:

• Active Service
• Special Services
• Service Commission (Comisión de Servicios)
• Temporary Service in Autonomous Communities
• Leave of Absence
• Suspension from Duties

Civil Servant Remuneration

Compensation includes:

• Basic Remuneration:
  • Base Salary (Sueldo)
  • Triennia (Trienios - based on years of service)
  • Extra Payments (Pagas Extraordinarias)
• Additional Compensation:
  • Destination Supplement (Complemento de Destino)
  • Specific Supplement (Complemento Específico)
  • Productivity Supplement (Complemento de Productividad)
  • Bonuses (Gratificaciones)
  • Allowances (Indemnizaciones por razón del servicio)

Non-Economic Rights

Civil servants possess various non-economic rights, such as:

• Right to hold their position
• Security of residence location (under certain conditions)
• Participation in job provision processes
• Career progression
• Access to refresher and advanced training courses
• Defined working hours
• Entitlement to holidays and leave

Incompatibility Rules

Personnel subject to these regulations generally cannot combine their public sector role with a second job, position, or activity in the public sector, except under specific exceptions established by law.