Government plans mass retirement of 10,000 civil servants

The government is preparing to enact a sweeping legislative measure to force the retirement of around 10,000 civil servants. The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperative, Federal Affairs and General Administration has drafted a new Federal Civil Service Bill that includes a one-time provision for significant bureaucratic downsizing.

Under this proposal, any civil servant who has served for 30 years or reached the age of 55 will be immediately retired upon the law's enactment. This initiative dramatically increases the normal mandatory retirement figures, which typically account for 2,000 to 3,000 personnel annually. The current fiscal year's scheduled retirements stand at 2,211, but the new law could instantly remove an additional 10,000 employees.

The draft bill, sent to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs on May 25, is described by ministry sources as a one-time measure. For those not affected by this round, the mandatory retirement age will remain 60. A ministry official stated the proposal originated from the political leadership, aiming to create a leaner and more efficient administration.

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That provision is a one-time measure. For all other employees who escape this retirement round, the mandatory age limit will be 60.

This aggressive restructuring aligns with the executive's 100-day action plan, which prioritizes administrative reform, downsizing, and fiscal austerity. Recent consolidation of federal ministries from 22 to 18 has also created pressure to reduce the workforce. The proposed law further reduces the tenure for chief secretaries from three to two years and for secretaries from five to three years, potentially leading to the immediate departure of 52 secretaries.

Despite the government's stated goals of efficiency and cost-cutting, the plan to force mass redundancies has generated significant resentment within the civil service. Affected employees perceive the move as an attack on their career security. Legal experts within ministries have also expressed alarm, warning that the provision may violate existing statutory protections.

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This proposal came directly from the political leadership. The government clearly wants to downsize the civil service to make the administration leaner and more efficient.