Complaints of unethical conduct of civil servants and commendations for their work
You can commend civil servants for their work via email to pohvale@mpu.hr
The Civil Service Code of Ethics stipulates the rules of conduct of civil servants and the ethical principles based on which civil servants should conduct themselves in the performance of their official duty. The Code also lays down the institutional framework for making complaints about unethical conduct of civil servants towards citizens and legal persons.
Civil Service Code of Ethics
Institutional framework for handling complaints about unethical conduct of civil servants
The Code of Ethics represents the institutional framework which enables the reporting of cases of unethical conduct of civil servants.There is an appointed ethics commissioner in every state and judicial authority, who promotes ethical conduct in the mutual contact of civil servants and in their contact with citizens, and receives complaints from citizens and civil servants about unethical conduct of servants.
Moreover, the Government of the Republic of Croatia also founded the Civil Service Ethics Commission as a second-instance body in handling complaints made by citizens and civil servants about unethical conduct of civil servants.
The Ethics and Integrity Service of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration was founded as the central organisational unit for the enhancement of professional ethics and cooperation with ethics commissioners. It performs professional tasks relating to the application of ethical principles in public administration with regard to the personal conduct of civil servants, possible conflict of interest and other types of unethical conduct of civil servants.
How to make commend a civil servant or make a complaint about their unethical conduct:
You can make a commendation or a complaint about the conduct of a civil servant:
- To the ethics commissioner of the authority where the civil servant is employed,
- To the head of the authority where the civil servant is employed,
- Via toll-free hotline of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration at 0800 0304,
- By e-mail to: prituzbe@mpu.hr
- By post to the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration at the address Ulica grada Vukovara 49, Zagreb or Maksimirska 63, Zagreb
Time limit for complaint resolution
The time limit for a complaint to be resolved by an ethics commissioner is 60 days from the date of its receipt.
If you do not receive a response within that time limit or you are not satisfied with the response, you can contact the Ethics Commission, an independent authority competent for the promotion of ethical principles in the civil service.
The address of the Ethics Commission is Maksimirska 63, 10000 Zagreb.
Breach of official duty
A civil servant’s conduct which is contrary to the Civil Service Code of Ethics can constitute a minor or a serious breach of official duty under the Civil Service Act. Article 98(8) of the Civil Service Act stipulates that conduct contrary to the Code of Ethics which is not harmful to the reputation of the civil service represents a minor breach of official duty, while Article 99(1)(13) thereof stipulates that conduct contrary to the Code of Ethics which is harmful to the reputation of the civil service represents a serious breach of official duty.
In case it is suspected that a complaint about a civil servant is founded, the head of the authority or the person they authorise may initiate the procedure for a minor or serious breach of official duty, or issue a written warning pursuant to the Civil Service Code of Ethics.