Montenegro proposes new civil service hiring rules

The Government of Montenegro has proposed amendments to the Law on Civil Servants and Employees, allowing individuals to be hired before passing their professional exam. The government has requested that the Parliament of Montenegro adopt these changes through an urgent procedure.

Under the proposed rules, candidates hired without a professional exam will have a six-month window to pass it. Failure to do so will result in the automatic termination of their employment by operation of law. This measure is intended to be temporary, remaining in effect until December 31, 2027.

The government cited personnel shortages in key sectors—specifically in police, security, environmental protection, and social welfare—as the primary driver for this change. Additionally, the move aligns with requirements from the European Commission to strengthen administrative capacities as part of Montenegro’s EU accession process. While the current law ensures professionalism by requiring the exam prior to employment, officials noted it has limited the pool of eligible candidates for many vacancies.