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Being a civil servant isn’t just about holding a government job, it’s about serving people with integrity, consistency, and respect, said Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights Maria Stylianou Lottidi at a conference for senior officials on Monday.
“Every word, every action, every attitude reflects the image of the state as a whole,” Lottidi said, stressing that public servants are not merely employees, but representatives of the public interest and the values of good governance.
The event, organized for senior members of the civil service, centered on the newly introduced Guide to Conduct and Ethics for Public Servants, which lays out clear standards for how state employees should behave toward citizens, their colleagues, and themselves.
According to the Commissioner, the guide is built around five core principles, legality, service to the public interest, good administration, equal treatment and non-discrimination, and transparency.
“When leadership demonstrates respect for legislation and procedures, consistency and integrity, a willingness to improve and modernize, then a culture of ethics is cultivated throughout the service,” she said. “This has an impact on efficiency, reliability, and ultimately on how satisfied citizens feel with their government.”
Lottidi emphasized that senior officials have a key role in setting the tone for ethical conduct. She also highlighted their responsibility to protect employees from harassment or retaliation at work, including cases of sexual harassment or bullying.
“Accountability and consistency in dealing with negligence or omissions are not just disciplinary tools,” she added. “They’re essential to strengthening transparency, meritocracy, and public trust in government.”
The Commissioner noted that the new guide reflects a shift in what both the state and society expect from civil servants today.
“Public servants are not expected to simply carry out their duties mechanically,” she said. “They are expected to act with responsibility, ethics, and social sensitivity, to serve people, not bureaucracy.”
