Everybody trying to get a Welsh Government job will need a fundamental level of Welsh

All people applying for Welsh Government jobs will be required to have a minimum of a "courtesy level" of Welsh.

Staff will have to prove they have met the abilities when appointed or inside an agreed period of time throughout their probationary period, which is usually 6 months.

That includes the opportunity to:

• pronounce Welsh language words, names, place names and terms
• answer the phone bilingually, greet people or make introductions bilingually
• understand and employ 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 – including an affection of the need for the language in society and an awareness of what's necessary to provide bilingual customer service.

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When advertising new jobs, adverts will no longer say "no Welsh language skills required" as that "no more reflects what's needed or ethos of the organisation".

"This really is to be replaced, as a minimum requirement of all posts, with wording emphasising that Welsh vocabulary skills are an asset towards the Welsh Government," the document says.

Applicants for jobs is going to be told without Welsh isn't a "barrier" to some job but new staff will get an induction course.

Welsh Government published the "Cymraeg. It belongs to us all" strategy which lists exactly what the institution is going to do to try meet targets to get a million Welsh speakers by 2050. The document details plans for that five years until 2025 like a short term goal to becoming a bilingual organisation by 2050.

It says "we would like and need more Welsh Government staff to have Welsh language skills they can use in work. You can do this in two ways; by existing staff starting to learn or improve and by more recruitment of those that already have Welsh vocabulary skills. Both of these will be required, as – crucially – is plenty of time and support to adapt."

It also says senior officials is going to be "expected to lead by example".

"They will help others to use, learn and improve their Welsh language skills – and develop skills of their own. Learning Welsh and facilitating its use by Welsh speakers in daily work is a business need over the organisation, and line managers will have to adhere to that principle by demonstrating personal leadership."

In relation to recruiting new staff, it says there have "been only limited possibilities to recruit new staff and that we do not expect this to change significantly any time soon" but says new staff is going to be "welcomed and supported to improve their Welsh language skills".

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "We're strengthening our Welsh language recruitment requirements consistent with our 'Cymraeg: It is associated with us all' strategy, which sets out our long-term plans to be a truly bilingual organisation, by which all staff understand Welsh.

"As part of the changes, we'll encourage all new employees to demonstrate or become familiar with a courtesy level of Welsh, and then encourage and help staff to understand Welsh through our wide-ranging programme of coaching, which is open to all of our employees. Between 2021 and 21, we saw a 44% increase in applications by staff for weekly Welsh lessons."

"Recruitment for our most senior leadership roles – like the one currently underway to appoint a new Permanent Secretary – already stress that people think about the Welsh language to be a good thing. We will introduce further changes when we introduce a brand new recruitment system, and can affect new posts and arising vacancies within the Welsh Government, in addition to roles – for example Commissioners – appointed by Welsh Government."

Conservative Senedd member Tom Giffard wrote on Twitter: "The Welsh Government is becoming a closed shop. I'm proud to talk Welsh, but why ought to be excluding the 75% of individuals in Wales that don't from employed by the Welsh Government? Shouldn't we simply be appointing the very best person to do the job?"

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