Civil Servants

In many countries, civil servants play a vital role in running public services and ensuring that government runs efficiently. However, in recent years, the phenomenon of civil servants becoming self-employed has increased. In essence, entrepreneurship among civil servants is seen as an alternative to improving personal well-being, especially in challenging economic conditions. However, this step raises questions about how entrepreneurship affects the performance of public services which should be a top priority.

There are several positive and negative impacts of civil servants being self-employed on public services, as well as how steps can be taken to maintain a balance between responsibilities as civil servants and entrepreneurial activities.

Positive Impacts of Civil Servants Being Self-Employed:

• Improved Employee Well-Being
  One of the main benefits of civil servants being self-employed is improved financial well-being. With additional income, employees can feel more prosperous and have a higher motivation to work. This increased well-being, in some cases, can have a positive impact on their work morale and service responsibilities.

• Development of Management Skills
  Entrepreneurship requires good managerial skills, including managing time, resources, and dealing with business challenges. Self-employed government employees tend to develop these skills, which can indirectly help them improve their performance in their primary workplace. With better management skills, they can be more efficient in carrying out public service tasks.

• Wider Economic Impact
  When government employees are self-employed, they contribute to the economy as a whole. They create jobs, drive the economy, and contribute to regional economic growth. In addition, ethical entrepreneurship can improve relations between the community and government, as self-employed government employees play a direct role in the economic life of their communities.

• Increased Innovation in Public Services
  Entrepreneurship often encourages people to think more creatively and innovatively in dealing with various challenges. Government employees who are involved in the business world can bring these innovative ideas into their work in the public sector, thereby driving improvements in the way public services are delivered. This innovation can take the form of using new technology, increasing work efficiency, or simplifying bureaucracy.

Negative Impacts of Government Employees Being Self-Employed:

• Conflict of Interest
  One of the main risks of government employees being self-employed is conflict of interest. Government employees who have their own businesses may be tempted to use their positions and authority for personal gain. For example, they can use access to information or networks obtained from public office to support their business, which of course violates the ethics and principles of public service.

• Decreased Focus on Main Tasks
  Running a business requires significant time and energy. If government employees focus too much on their personal business, it is possible that their attention and energy on their main tasks as public servants will decrease. This can lead to a decrease in the quality of service to the public, such as slow administrative processes, lack of innovation, or inadequate service.

• Potentially Reduced Professionalism
  Government employees who are involved in personal businesses can lose their professionalism in carrying out public service duties. They may tend to ignore existing procedures, focus more on personal gain, or even use their position to facilitate their business. In addition, professionalism in maintaining distance from the public as public customers can be disrupted if the employee is involved in direct business transactions with citizens.

• Potential to Damage Public Trust
  The public can lose trust in self-employed government employees if they feel that public services are disrupted. If there is abuse of authority or suboptimal public services because employees are busy taking care of their personal businesses, the image of the government as a whole can be tarnished. In the long term, this can damage the relationship between the government and the public, which is an important foundation in a democratic system.

To avoid the negative impacts of government employees who are self-employed, many countries have established regulations that prohibit or limit the business activities of government employees. The rules on the prohibition of self-employment for government employees are usually regulated in a Government Regulation on Government Employee Discipline, which states that government employees are prohibited from engaging in business or commercial activities, unless they have obtained official permission from the authorities.

However, even though there are regulations that prohibit or limit entrepreneurship among government employees, violations of these rules still often occur. This is due to weak supervision, lack of law enforcement, and economic reasons that encourage employees to seek additional income. To overcome this problem, several important steps can be taken:

• Strengthening Supervision and Law Enforcement
  The government needs to strengthen the supervision mechanism for employee activities that have the potential to cause conflicts of interest. Stricter law enforcement against disciplinary violations related to entrepreneurship needs to be implemented to maintain the integrity of public services.

• Providing Opportunities for Career Development
  Many government employees are self-employed because they feel that career development opportunities in their work environment are limited. By expanding career development opportunities, such as skill enhancement or special training, employees may feel more motivated to focus on their responsibilities in the public sector.

• Official Permit and Transparency
  In some cases, if entrepreneurship is considered not to conflict with the employee's main duties, the government can grant official permission with certain conditions. Transparency regarding the business being run, avoiding conflicts of interest, and strict supervision can be solutions so that employees can continue to contribute to the economic sector without neglecting their public service duties.

• Flexible Working Hours
  The government can consider implementing more flexible working hours for employees who have side businesses, as long as they do not interfere with public services. This regulation must be supported by a strict monitoring mechanism to prevent misuse of working time.

Many government employees choose to raise chickens or goats as a side activity. This is often done as part of an effort to increase income, especially for those who live in rural areas. Raising livestock such as chickens and goats can provide economic benefits, both in terms of livestock products that can be sold and from the use of by-products such as eggs, milk, or meat.

However, although raising livestock can be a source of additional income, there are several things that government employees need to pay attention to in running this side business. First, they must ensure that this activity does not interfere with their main job as public servants. Second, it is also important to comply with regulations regarding conflicts of interest, which may arise if the livestock business is related to their duties or authority as government employees.

In general, if run properly, a side business such as raising chickens or goats can be a positive solution for government employees to increase income without having to leave their main responsibilities.

Entrepreneurship among government employees is an increasing phenomenon and has both positive and negative impacts on public services. On the one hand, employees who are self-employed can improve their personal well-being and develop management skills that are useful in their work. However, on the other hand, there are major risks related to conflicts of interest, decreased service quality, and the potential for damage to public trust.

Therefore, the government must take steps to ensure that entrepreneurship by civil servants does not harm public services. Strengthening regulations, enforcing discipline, and strict supervision are key to maintaining a balance between service responsibilities and business activities.