‘Courtesy-level’Welsh needed for WG jobs

ALL people applying for Welsh Government jobs will be required to have at least a “courtesy level” of Welsh.

Staff will have to prove they have met the skills when appointed or within an agreed amount of time during their probationary period, which is usually six months. That includes the ability to:

pronounce Welsh language words, names, place names and terms

answer the phone bilingually, greet people or make introductions bilingually

understand and use proactively everyday expressions and simple key words relating to the workplace

read and understand short texts providing basic information, for example in correspondence, or to interpret the content using available technology

demonstrate language awareness - which includes an appreciation of the importance of the language in society.

When advertising new jobs, adverts will no longer say “no Welsh language skills required” as that “no longer reflects the requirements or ethos of the organisation”.

“This is to be replaced, as a minimum requirement for all posts, with wording emphasising that Welsh language skills are an asset to the Welsh Government,” the document says. Applicants for jobs will be told having no Welsh is not a “barrier” to a job but new staff will get an induction course.

Welsh Government published the “Cymraeg. It belongs to us all” strategy which lists what the institution will do to try meet targets to get a million Welsh speakers by 2050.

The document details plans for the five years until 2025 as a short term goal to becoming a bilingual organisation by 2050.

It also says senior officials will be “expected to lead by example”.

Conservative MS Tom Giffard wrote on Twitter: “The Welsh Government is becoming a closed shop. I’m proud to speak Welsh, but why should be excluding the 75% of people in Wales that don’t from working for the Welsh Government?”