The National Assembly has passed the Pay Revision Bill of Bhutan 2023. The House today re-deliberated and adopted the bill with a new section on 21 days of annual leave for civil servants, and revoked the National Council’s recommendation on reinstating duty-free membership for Members of Parliament.
The chairperson of the Economic and Finance Committee of the National Assembly said the NA recommended a 21-day annual leave for civil servants after consulting with the Royal Civil Service Commission and the government.
Other Members of Parliament also supported the recommendation of increasing the annual leave from 12 days to 21.
The Royal Civil Service Commission recently introduced the annual leave of 12 days to promote periodic rejuvenation and work-life balance for civil servants.
The NA recommended increasing the annual leave to 21 days but it was rejected by the National Council. The National Council’s Good Governance Committee had said that the RCSC is an autonomous institution and that the Parliament should not meddle with the Civil Service Rules and Regulations.
“Earlier, when we add 30 days of earned leave and ten days of casual leave, it is 40 days. Now, there is no earned leave, and when we add casual leave and annual leave of ten days it comes to 31 days. So, the leave has not amounted to the previous total leave but has in turn decreased. Therefore, I feel like an increase from 12 to 21 days is deserving,” said Dorji Wangdi, Opposition Leader.
The National Assembly also rejected the National Council’s recommendation on reinstating duty-free membership for Members of Parliament. The duty-free membership was discontinued at the beginning of this year in line with the Pay Structure Reform Act of Bhutan 2022.
“We have not witnessed any Act where it says there will be tax exemptions on alcohol. In the past, after issuing an executive order by the government, the duty-free membership came into existence. Moreover, it is also not mentioned in the Pay Revision Bill or Tax Acts. Therefore, if it is needed in the future, the government can reinstate it with an executive order. So, we found it not necessary in this Bill,” said Kinga Penjor, Chairperson of the Economic and Finance Committee.
The bill was passed with 44 Members of Parliament voting in favour of the Bill.
It will now be submitted to His Majesty The King for Royal Assent.
Kinzang Lhadon
Edited by Tshering Zam
