News item | 19-12-2024 | 10:31
From January 1, civil servants who enter the service of the central government will take a new version of the oath of office. This better indicates what civil servants stand for and how they want to work; on the basis of equality, justice and respect. The new text of the oath also makes it clearer that civil servants work in the general interest of our society.
Minister Judith Uitermark of the Interior and Kingdom Relations: “Most civil servants do not just work for the government. They consciously choose the public task, because they want to contribute something to society. That also includes values. Everyone must be able to trust that they will be treated fairly by civil servants with respect and on the basis of equality. Every person counts and information is handled with integrity. Equality and justice are basic principles of our democratic constitutional state. It is important that every civil servant now declares this in clear language by taking the renewed oath of office at the start of his or her career in government.”
The reason for the new text is the wish of the House of Representatives (Ellian motion) to add the phrase ‘loyalty to the public task’ to the oath or affirmation. We then looked at more options to pay attention in the text to the principles on which civil servants do their work. The moment has also been seized to make the text more accessible.
Most important changes
First of all, the new oath of office is more understandable. This makes it clear to everyone what the official swears or promises. The previous oath was often experienced as outdated and difficult to understand. In addition, the new oath places more emphasis on the general interest and society and the effect of their actions on people.
The decision to change the oath was already taken in 2023, but had yet to be laid down by order in council. This has now happened, meaning that the new oath will be taken from January 1 by all civil servants who are newly employed by the central government.