Dozens of state administration employees will be moved between government structures in the coming weeks as structural changes take hold across ministries, according to public consultation documents. The reorganization involves shifting staff alongside massive volumes of documentation, including case files, accounting records, and employee records.
Ministry of Environment and Water Restructuring Plan
The Ministry of Environment and Water published a draft of an entirely new structural code outlining plans to consolidate regional environmental inspectorates from 15 down to 7, according to project documents. Despite cutting the number of inspectorates by more than half, the total headcount reduction across these units will reach only 60 positions. The ministry states the changes aim to reduce management roles and redirect resources toward monitoring activities, assuring that experts will not be cut. However, a comparison of the regulations reveals a drop of 20 positions in specialized administration and a rise of 10 in general administration, contrary to the expected balance.
Overall, the ministry’s total staff schedule will decrease by 79 positions, dropping from 2,691 to 2,612 slots, project reports show. Minister Rositsa Karamfilova also plans to transfer water control responsibilities from basin directories to the environmental inspectorates. This shift requires moving 69 employees between the structures by the end of the year without interrupting their employment relationships. Project documentation makes no explicit mention of whether new competitions will be held for inspectorate directors following the consolidation, unlike reforms planned in other sectors.
Shifts and Reductions in Health and Employment Agencies
The Ministry of Health is undergoing major workforce and archive relocations as part of similar administrative updates. Regional medical expert evaluation card files are slated for transfer to the National Expert Medical Commission, while regional health inspectorate staff and records move directly into the ministry alongside a complete replacement of directors. Additionally, employees at the National Centre of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection must sign new contracts as the center merges into the National Centre of Public Health and Analyses. Meanwhile, the Employment Agency is cutting 130 positions—dropping its headcount from 2,209 to 2,079—by primarily eliminating long-vacant roles while adding 9 financial controllers to bolster internal oversight.
Did You Know? The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology currently maintains 714 staff positions and operates a vast regional network across the country, as detailed in recent administrative project documents.
Broader Administrative Implications and Oversight
Evaluating the true optimization impact of these sweeping changes remains difficult given the current allocation of staffing slots. Within the environmental ministry’s new schedule, the minister’s political cabinet retains 10 positions, the press center keeps 6, and specialized staff assigned to the air purity protection directorate number just 13. Project documentation outlines these allocations as public consultations proceed across the affected state structures.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many regional environmental inspectorates will remain after the consolidation?
The number of regional inspectorates will be reduced from 15 down to 7.
What is the total staff reduction planned at the Ministry of Environment and Water?
The total headcount schedule will decrease by 79 positions, shifting from 2,691 down to 2,612 slots.
Which agency is reducing its staff primarily by cutting long-vacant positions?
The Employment Agency is cutting 130 slots, mostly through long-term vacant positions, while increasing its financial controller count by 9.
How will these administrative relocations impact the day-to-day workflow of public sector employees?
Related reading