Wallonia is turning a historic page in its administration. At the initiative of the Minister for the Civil Service, Jacqueline Galant, the Walloon Government has adopted, on first reading, an ambitious reform that ends the primacy of status in the civil service.
This decision marks a profound shift: from now on, it will no longer be legal status that determines career opportunities, but rather each civil servant's skills, commitment and merit.
“That is my vision for the administration: competence above all,” says Jacqueline Galant.
A fairer and more modern administration
For decades, status rigidified how the administration operated and created inequalities between staff. Two people performing similar duties could have entirely different prospects, purely because of their status.
With this reform, the Walloon Government is putting an end to these imbalances.
All recruitment will now take place under an employment contract (permanent contracts as the norm, fixed-term contracts as the exception), and all posts and promotions will be open to everyone, whether contract-based or statutory staff.
The result:
- Real equality of opportunity between staff
- More open and motivating careers
- Greater recognition of skills and experience
Attracting talent and boosting efficiency
In a rapidly changing world of work, the civil service cannot remain rigid. This reform also aims to make the Walloon administration more attractive.
It will make it possible to attract more experienced profiles, including from the private sector, and to strengthen a genuine results-driven culture within public services.
“How can we motivate young civil servants if their prospects are blocked by their status? We are putting an end to this injustice,” stresses Jacqueline Galant.
A responsible and considered reform
Contrary to popular belief, this transformation is part of a controlled budgetary path, set out until 2029. It does not affect the rights of current statutory staff, who fully retain their status.
But it clearly sets a course for the future: over time, status will gradually disappear as staff retire.
A liberal vision of public action
This reform fully embodies the values championed by the Mouvement Réformateur:
- recognition of merit
- accountability
- efficiency of public action
- equal opportunities
After ending permanent appointments and making management more accountable, Jacqueline Galant is continuing a profound cultural shift within the Walloon administration.
A clear ambition: to build a more flexible, higher-performing civil service, fully focused on citizens.