KATHMANDU: The government is awaiting inputs from the Public Service Commission (PSC) on a draft bill relating to the civil service before giving it a final shape.
The bill is being introduced to revamp the federal civil service, including its structure, operation, terms and conditions, career development, transfers and promotions. It is expected to make the civil administration more systematic, accountable and competent.
The draft bill was sent to the PSC after receiving suggestions from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. It was forwarded to the constitutional body in line with legal provisions.
Once the PSC submits its recommendations, the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration will present the draft to the Council of Ministers along with its recommendations.
Ministry spokesperson Ekadev Adhikari told RSS that the PSC was expected to submit its recommendations within a week.
Currently, one of the key issues in the draft bill is the retirement age for government employees. Adhikari said the new bill includes a one-off provision allowing employees who have completed 30 years of service or reached the age of 55 to retire. For others, the retirement age would remain 60.
Adhikari said the Ministry of Finance had already agreed to the one-off provision and that it would not have an adverse financial impact. According to him, employees retiring at 55 under the provision would receive benefits equivalent to those retiring after 58 years of service, so their retirement would not reduce their benefits and incentives.
The draft bill also emphasizes smooth administrative relations among the federal, provincial and local governments. There have long been calls to amend provisions concerning services, groups and sub-groups, recruitment, employee codes and incentives.
The absence of a new federal civil service law, despite the implementation of the three-tier federal system of government, has created several practical problems in the organizational management of government employees. Legal clarity has also been sought regarding the adjustment of employees at the federal, provincial and local levels, as well as intergovernmental coordination and transfers.
Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration Pratibha Rawal had earlier announced in a meeting of the House of Representatives that the bill would be submitted to Parliament once it was finalized.
Meanwhile, PSC spokesperson Purushottam Sharma told RSS that the commission was conducting a study and holding consultations on the draft federal civil service bill.
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