Local Governments to Gain Greater Flexibility in Personnel Management

Local governments are expected to gain expanded autonomy in personnel management, enabling more flexible workforce operations.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 26th that the amended ordinance on "Administrative Structures and Staffing Standards for Local Governments," which centers on the introduction of a per-capita personnel cost system, passed the Cabinet meeting on the 25th.

As a result, local governments will be able to autonomously manage their staffing levels. The existing overall personnel ceiling management will be abolished.

Additionally, to enable local governments to respond flexibly to welfare, safety, and region-specific administrative needs, an additional autonomous range of 1~3% for personnel costs will be permitted, with this autonomous range to be determined according to each local government's fiscal conditions.

Previously, under the lump-sum personnel cost system, local governments were subject to dual management of both total staffing levels and personnel cost ceilings, which imposed constraints on autonomous organizational operations.

Alongside this expansion of autonomy, enhancements to accountability and expertise will proceed simultaneously.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to strengthen self-conducted organizational analysis and diagnosis to secure autonomous control mechanisms for local government organizational operations. When local governments request it, the Ministry will be able to provide necessary support for analysis and diagnosis, including organizational consulting.

Additionally, local government heads must mandatorily disclose information about organizational operations on internet websites and similar platforms. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety Minister will be able to consolidate and disclose local organizational information to enable comparison and analysis with other local governments.

A Ministry official stated, "We plan to gradually expand organizational autonomy for local governments to create an environment in which they can properly serve residents."