Nepal readies plan to reclaim land held by party-affiliated trade unions

The newly formed Nepali government under Prime Minister Balendra Shah has initiated a significant governance reform agenda, signaling a strong intent to professionalize public administration and curb political influence.

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Public administration shall be made free from political interference, ensuring it is impartial, neutral, and accountable to citizens.

A central pillar of this '100-point governance reform agenda' is the decisive move to dismantle party-affiliated trade unions within government bodies. The administration aims to create an impartial and accountable public service, free from the 'interference' and 'informal pressure' that have long plagued decision-making and service delivery. This initiative seeks to ensure that civil servants, teachers, and all public employees perform their duties based on merit and neutrality, rather than political affiliation.

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To this end, civil servants, teachers, professors, and all public servants must perform their duties free from direct or indirect affiliation with any party, group, or interest centre, with strict departmental action taken under existing laws for violations.

Furthermore, the government is set to address the long-standing issue of party unions occupying public land and physical structures. Despite existing legal frameworks mandating lease agreements and rental payments for such assets, these organizations have largely operated without compliance, often shielded by political influence. The administration's plan to enforce a 'lease' model and reclaim land where necessary marks a critical step towards restoring state control over public property and ensuring equitable use of resources.

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It further notes the goal to 'abolish party trade unions in public administration to end unwanted interference and informal pressure, making decision-making and service delivery more effective.'