Miscellaneous
Government, agitating civil servants fail to ink deal
Despite reaching an understanding to resolve the current standoff on staff adjustment, the federal government and official trade union of the civil servants reached failed to seal the deal on Wednesday after the Nepali Congress-affiliated trade union opposed certain provisions at the last hour.Prithvi Man Shrestha
Despite reaching an understanding to resolve the current standoff on staff adjustment, the federal government and official trade union of the civil servants reached failed to seal the deal on Wednesday after the Nepali Congress-affiliated trade union opposed certain provisions at the last hour.
The NC-affiliated trade union expressed reservations over the deputation of staff under the revenue service to sub-national governments, informed sources said.
Earlier, after a two-day marathon meeting afternoon, the two sides had reached a nine-point understanding on Wednesday afternoon, with the government promising to address the key demands of the agitating civil servants.
During the negotiation, the government assured that demands concerning civil servants’ career growth would be addressed, while the official trade union agreed to assist adjustment process by setting up a help desk as per the deal.
Civil servants have been protesting against the planned adjustment of the government employees at three layers of government, arguing that the Civil Servant Adjustment Ordinance that the House of Representative endorsed on Tuesday failed to address their concerns regarding career growth after adjustment.
As per the understanding, the government will allow the civil servants adjusted at the provincial and local levels to come to the federal civil service through promotion. The ministry will incorporate such provision in the Federal Civil Service Bill and table it at the Cabinet shortly. The bill will also ensure conditions and facilities enjoyed by the civil servants in line with the current Civil Service Act. There will also be a provision that restricts any deduction in salary, allowance, retirement benefits, pension, family support, medical treatment, among other facilities. It says the existing seniority of the civil servants would not be affected even after they are adjusted at the provincial and local levels.
“As the civil servants were concerned about their career growth and facilities after the adjustment, we have promised them those concerns will be addressed through the law,” said Suresh Adhikari, spokesperson for the Ministry for Federal Affairs.
During the negotiation, the government side also agreed to incorporate the issues of education, health and employee’s welfare fund in the Federal Civil Service Act.
The necessary legal provisions will be made for the promotion of non-gazetted staff adjusted in three layers of government.
The government has agreed to recommend the provincial and local governments for making laws for transfer of civil servants to the areas where they have permanent address after certain years. It has also agreed to ensure representation of official trade union in drafting of policies and laws related to staff adjustment.
Bhola Pokharel, the vice president of the official trade union, told the Post that the civil servants are ready to go wherever the government deputes them, but “it should not happen at the cost of career growth and facilities they are enjoying currently”.
Last week, the government had initiated the adjustment process calling on civil servants to apply within 21 days their preferred posts under the three-tier public administration. According to the Federal Affairs Ministry, around 6,000 civil servants have already informed the authorities concerned about their choice of destinations after the adjustment.