The Finance Minister Namgay Tshering clarified that the government has not taken any action towards doing away with the vehicle quota system amid social media frenzy after the foreign minister’s statement saying they may do away with vehicle quota.
The clarification, which was posted on the finance minister’s personal Facebook account states, “foreign minister in his press brief has just outlined the future plans to do away with the system of allotting vehicle quota, but the present government has not taken any action towards this move.”
The post further reads, “the system of allotting individual duty exempted quota on import of vehicle with remain status-quo except for the monetisation move as outlined in the pay revision act 2019.” This means that the civil servants can take monetary compensation in favour of duty exemption while importing vehicle.
As per the Pay Revision Act of Bhutan 2019, a person eligible for a vehicle import quota for a 3000 CC vehicle can opt for Nu 1.5 M in lieu of the quota. Likewise, a person eligible for vehicle quota ceiling of Nu 800,000 can opt for Nu 250,000 monetised amount or Nu 350,000 monetised amount if they choose to buy an electric car. A vehicle import quota frees a person from paying customs duty and sales tax.
The minister also clarified on the pay revision for contract employees.
The finance minister also clarified on the speculation and disgruntlement on social media regarding pay revision for employees on contract. The minister wrote, “the pay scale of the other public servants, which includes the consolidated contract employees, shall be revised as per the equivalent position in the civil service. Therefore the basis for the pay revision will be the Act passed by the Parliament.”
Section 18 of the Pay Revision Act of Bhutan 2019 states, “The pay scale of all other public servants mapped with position levels of the civil service shall be revised as per the equivalent positions in civil service.”
The minister also urged the public not to believe everything that is posted on social media and not spread information without facts and verifications.
