The Inefficiency of the Competition Commission
Despite being tasked with fighting against high prices, the Competition Commission is facing criticism for its inefficiency. With less than half of the required 230 employees, the institution is struggling to fulfill its role effectively.
Understaffing and Lack of Incentives
Both current and former leaders of the Commission have raised concerns about the lack of adequate staffing and incentives. The workload is overwhelming, and experts in fields such as law, economics, and technology often choose more lucrative opportunities in the private sector or other public institutions.
Plans for Improvement
Following a meeting between the new development minister, Takis Theodorikakos, and the Commission’s head, Irene Sharpe, plans have been announced to hire 25 new executives. The hope is that this increase in staffing, along with potential incentives, will help improve the Commission’s effectiveness in combating high prices.
Increasing Executive Recruitment
The proposal to recruit an additional 25 executives for the commission is a step in the right direction. However, the process may not happen immediately. The announcement for the first batch of 25 executives is expected to be made in September, with a second batch to follow shortly after.
Staffing Issues in the Commission
According to the latest activity report released by the commission, in 2022, there were a total of 116 employees, consisting of 90 assistant rapporteurs and 26 administrative staff. However, 23 employees were seconded to other services.
The ongoing problem of understaffing within this important regulatory body has been a long-standing issue, exacerbated in recent years by the departure of several executives who were either not replaced or not replaced in a timely manner.
As a result, some cases handled by the commission have been prolonged or lacked sufficient documentation, leading affected companies to successfully appeal the authority’s decisions and receive reduced fines.
