Pandit’s bid to take civil servants into confidence

Kathmandu, December 26

Minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration Lalbabu Pandit tried to allay fears of civil servants saying the civil servants adjustment ordinance would not be an obstacle in employees’ professional development.

Addressing a press conference at the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration  today, Pandit said the federal civil servants bill would be registered in the current session of Parliament and the federal government would also send a template of provincial and local civil servants bills to ensure that their laws relating to civil servants did not go against the criteria of terms and conditions set in the federal law.

He hoped that all employees, from secretary to the lowest level, would choose to be adjusted in different tiers of the government.

In response to a question, Pandit said the federal government had more employees than the provincial governments but when the provincial governments created more structures under their jurisdiction, more federal employees would be adjusted in the provincial governments.

The MoFAGA stated that it accelerated the process of adjusting civil servants after the ordinance was issued.

As many as 47,920 posts of civil servants have been approved for the federal government, 22,755 for the provincial governments and 67,503 for the local governments, states the MoFAGA release. The minister also clarified that civil servants suffering from serious ailments and those who only had one year to serve would remain with the federal government.

The ministry said that the ordinance had proposed to provide incentives, including additional grades, to civil servants so as to inspire them to choose adjustment.

The release stated that civil servants choosing adjustment would not lose their current pay and perks.

It also said that government employees working in the corporate body who have been transferred to local governments would also be adjusted in the local governments.

The ministry stated that the government had almost finalised the adjustment of permanent civil servants of former local bodies.

The release added that the government had opened help desks at chief ministers’ office, provincial ministries, district administration offices and district coordination committees, besides opening new website www.samayojan.com to facilitate civil servants’ adjustment. New software has been developed to facilitate online application for adjustment.

An employees’ grievance redressal committee has been formed at the MoFAGA to hear  grievances of employees. This committee, which also has representation from the authentic trade union of civil servants, has already submitted its report after discussing issues of adjustment with stakeholders.

The ministry stated that it would try to find a negotiated settlement on issues raised by civil servants.

It added that in the law related to  federal civil servants,  provisions would be incorporated to give equal opportunities to civil servants of the federal, local and provincial governments  while filling federal  posts  through  promotion on the basis of open competition, internal exams, seniority and work efficiency.  “This will boost the morale of civil servants who choose adjustment in the provincial and local governments,” the ministry stated in its release.