DHANGADHI: Economic activities in Sudurpaschim Province have ground to a halt as accounting staff protest the Civil Service Act introduced by the provincial government, which they say undermines career development opportunities in the accounting sector.
Accounts officer Krishna Shahi stated that the act directly affects accounting employees, leaving them with limited prospects for promotion and career growth. As a result of the protest, salary disbursements for provincial assembly members, government employees, and people’s representatives have been put on hold.
Normally, salaries for the Chief Minister, ministers, MPs, and employees are released after the 25th of every month, but even after 10 days of protest, no payments have been made.
The protest has impacted around 2,000 employees, who have vowed not to return to work until their demands are addressed. The protesters argue that the current structure of the Civil Service Act hinders promotion to higher levels.
While there are 25 positions at the seventh and eighth officer levels, there is only one position for the deputy secretary at the ninth and tenth levels. This disparity leaves accounting staff with almost no opportunity for career advancement.
The issue intensified after the Sudurpaschim Province Public Service Commission issued a notice on March 4, promoting 16 people from the general administration and revenue groups but leaving accounting staff out.
Shahi pointed out that the ninth-level group of the provincial civil service has already been removed in Lumbini and Koshi provinces, allowing employees of all groups to compete for promotion through open competition.
The accounting officers had been protesting peacefully for over a year, demanding the removal of the ninth-level group. However, as their demands remained unaddressed, they resorted to a complete work stoppage, bringing economic activities to a standstill.
Deputy Leader of the UML, Santosh Sharma Thapa, had proposed an amendment to remove the ninth-level group, but the provincial assembly did not incorporate his suggestions. As a result, the ongoing strike has caused significant disruption, with only about 14 percent of the capital budget being spent in the eight-month period from Shrawan to Falgun.
The protest highlights the growing frustration among government employees as they demand equal career growth opportunities and fair representation in the promotion process. The provincial government now faces mounting pressure to address the demands and restore economic activities.
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