SANTO DOMINGO. – 69 percent of all government workers got their job through connections and/or political recommendations, a situation that still reflects the presence of cronyism when government agencies  recruit personnel.

The figure, disclosed in the “Survey on civil service and public servants” presented yesterday by the National Public Administration Institute (INAP) in the El Embajador hotel, reveals that only 16, 6 and 4 percent enter via job applications, professional contest or training and merits, respectively.

The study also found that in most cases the workers lack the academic profile the position demands, and 12.6 percent of the people asked said the situation is “very frequent,” 18.7 percent said it’s “frequent” and 32.3 percent affirm it’s “little frequent.”

The survey was done with 600 government employees selected at random in 36 state agencies around the country selected by the INAP, and includes State, ministries general directorates and decentralized entities, with a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

The poll also found that 62 percent said job promotions are infrequent, 2.7 percent said “very frequent” and 25.2 percent “frequent.”

INAP director Obando Roberto Prestol affirms the survey “unfortunately” reveals historical realities on government work for more than four decades. “The recruitment for jobs in the government is still permeated by recommendations and political cronysm, which is difficult to move up the ladder and many positions are still being occupied by people who don’t have the required academic profile.”

Upon presenting the study, Obando said the study’s objective is to know the present situation in government agencies and make public administration synonymous with efficiency,  transparency and quality, through the application of the new law on public function.

Positive valuations

Despite the situation, 70 percent of the employees recognize that training programs have improved professional performance, whereas 94 percent agree that INAP’s project has positive results on the personnel.