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🇳🇵 Nepal /Economy & Trade

Government setting legal measures to downsize bureaucracy

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • The Nepali government plans to implement a one-time compulsory retirement provision for civil servants aged 55 or with 30 years of service.
  • This measure aims to downsize the bureaucracy and improve administrative efficiency, potentially affecting over 10,000 civil servants.
  • The Federal Civil Service Bill is currently in the drafting stage, with the retirement provision's final form subject to review and potential changes.

The Nepali government is preparing to introduce a significant change to its civil service structure through the Federal Civil Service Bill. A key provision in the revised draft proposes a one-time compulsory retirement for civil servants who are either 55 years old or have completed 30 years of service at the time the law comes into effect. This transitional arrangement is distinct from the standard retirement age, which will be set at 60 years after this initial measure is implemented.

This initiative is primarily aimed at downsizing the civil service and enhancing administrative efficiency. Government officials estimate that this provision could lead to the retirement of over 10,000 civil servants. This number, combined with the approximately 3,000 employees who retire annually under the regular system, suggests a substantial reduction in the government workforce within a single year. This move follows the federal government's earlier decision to reduce the number of ministries from 22 to 18 as part of broader administrative restructuring.

The provision was aimed at downsizing the civil service and making the administration more efficient.

— Government officialExplaining the objective behind the proposed retirement provision.

Currently, there are 50,768 sanctioned civil service posts at the federal level, with 39,888 filled. Across federal, provincial, and local levels, Nepal employs a total of 85,240 civil servants. To further refine staffing, organizational and management surveys are underway to assess workloads and determine future needs based on functional requirements. The bill is still undergoing review, having been sent from the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Federal Affairs to the Ministry of Finance and subsequently to the Ministry of Law. Sources indicate the new retirement provision was added following high-level political instruction, and its final form remains uncertain.

The bill is still in the drafting stage and has been sent to the Ministry of Finance for review before being forwarded to the Ministry of Law for further scrutiny.

— Ganesh Prasad BhattaJoint secretary and spokesperson for the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Federal Affairs, providing an update on the bill's status.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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