During the opening of the 25th Crafts and Gastronomy Fair in Pampilhosa da Serra, the Minister of Justice, Rita Alarcão Júdice, announced that the Ministry of Finance has authorized the process of hiring judicial staff “without whom no Court can function.”
When questioned, the minister’s office clarified that it is still necessary to wait for the Ministry of Finance’s dispatch to know when it will be possible to launch the external competition for 570 new court officials to enter public administration. The Ministry of Justice is “studying the best way” to launch the competition to ensure its efficiency and distribute vacancies across regions where the lack of these professionals is most felt.
This is because the ministry wants to avoid vacant positions due to a lack of candidates or non-acceptance of the position, which has happened in recent competitions. This is mainly because the entry-level salary does not cover expenses such as rent in areas like Lisbon and its metropolitan area.
The Justice Minister’s office stated that “for now, there are no plans” for any incentives to retain professionals in high-pressure areas with a higher cost of living.
Regarding the career of judicial staff, the minister mentioned the ongoing review process of the Judicial Staff Statute, about which she hopes to “have good news in the coming months.”
Rita Alarcão Júdice also announced the installation of “new videoconferencing equipment, new audio systems, and new telephones in all courts across the country, which will allow for greater communication capacity.” These are financed by the Recovery and Resilience Program (PRR), with supply contracts completed and approved by the Court of Auditors.
The expectation, according to the minister, is that “from September until the end of the year, these infrastructures will be at the service of Justice.”
Regarding the public consultation process for the Anti-Corruption Agenda, which ends today, the Justice Minister revealed that over 20 contributions were received, “mainly from citizens, lawyers, jurists, and associations,” in addition to contributions in the press, radio, and television.
“We take note of everything because the fight against corruption should be a struggle for every citizen. We want to reform Justice,” says Minister Rita Alarcão Júdice.
