The novelties of the Serbian civil service legislation – introducing a competency based human resource management

Abstract

Strengthening administrative capacities and development of a professional and efficient public administration is one of the European Union key requirements. Introducing a new human resource management system based on competences represents an essential element of a comprehensive public administration reform in the Republic of Serbia. The main objective of the paper is to review new public administration legislative framework introducing a modern human resource management. Consequently, the paper restricts itself to the following elements: personnel planning, recruitment and selection based on competences, performance appraisal, professional training, and mobility within public administration at central and local level. In addition, according to the novelties in laws and by -laws, competences are connected with all human resources management functions. Essentially, it will create the legal basis to support professional, efficient, effective and high quality public administration performance. All of these elements make public administration dynamic and more responsive to the needs of clients and society. Furthermore, in order to provide efficient implementation of new management instruments, significant efforts need to be invested in order to implement and sustain ambitious reform program.