National Assembly approves Civil Service Bill unanimously

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Sept. 3: The National Assembly has approved the much-awaited Civil Service Bill unanimously along with a provision of the cooling-off period. 

Prior to that, the Legislative Management Committee of the National Assembly had finalised the provision on retirement age of the civil servants. The committee failed to reach a decision Monday, as Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Bhagawati Neupane, proposed for increasing retirement age to 59 from 58 in the fiscal year the Bill turns into a law. The lawmakers of the ruling parties had agreed to the proposal but the opposition MPs refused to go against the endorsement of the House of Representatives.   

Meanwhile, Minister Neupane clarified that her earlier proposal regarding the retirement age of civil servants was not made to serve anyone’s personal interest. Speaking at the meeting of the National Assembly’s Legislative Management Committee on Tuesday, Minister Neupane said that the proposal emerged purely as part of the deliberations and was not targeted at benefitting any individual.

“There was extensive discussion on the issue of retirement age during the meeting. Everyone presented their arguments, and I also put forth the government’s position and request.”

“However, I had no personal interest in the matter,” she said, stressing, “I have a firm commitment not to act unfairly in the name of fulfilling anyone’s interest.” Minister Neupane informed that she intended to uplift the morale of civil servants and to maintain a harmonious relationship between the government and the employees.

“We debated thoroughly, and MPs shared their views. Some concerns were addressed through mutual understanding, and the government was flexible in accommodating the sentiments of the members,” she added.

On the matter of the much-debated “cooling-off period,” she remarked that the government and the committee were keen to reach a consensus.

Reiterating her commitment that the Federal Civil Service Bill would be endorsed in the current session, the Minister said that once the bill is passed, it would ease the implementation of administrative federalism. 

She further stressed that it was better to finalise proposals unanimously rather than through majority–minority divisions. “I am not in favour of voting divisions. Let us move forward in the same way the House of Representatives endorsed the bill. Let us adopt the provision on retirement age as passed by the House and endorse the bill today,” the Minister added. As per the new arrangement, civil servants completing 58 years of age in the fiscal year when the law comes into effect will retire at 58. 

Those completing 58 in the second fiscal year will retire at 59, while from the third fiscal year onwards, the retirement age will be set at 60 years.