Instead of paying Nu.160,000 in cash, the National Assembly, today, decided to provide vehicle quota to civil servants above P3 level.
The Second Pay Commission, during the July session this year, had recommended that these civil servants be paid in cash instead of allocating them a vehicle quota, to curb the growing expenditure of the government.
The commission had recommended that the ceiling be fixed at Nu.160,000.
However, a few parliamentarians said the decision shouldn’t be binding and that a civil servant should be allowed to choose, to take either a quota or cash.
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The Second Pay Commission’s report said it is a common knowledge that many of the civil servants sell their vehicle import quota to private individuals. It is had multiplier import on the import of vehicles, it said.
In July this year, the Ministry of Finance has issued import authorisation of vehicles close to 900 civil servants, over 100 armed force personnel and to five constitutional post holders.
Meanwhile, the Second Pay Commission’s recommendation to withdraw pool vehicles from the government offices has been dropped. Lyonpo Namgay Dorji said the government offices will continue to have pool vehicles as a temporary measure.
However, he said no new pool vehicles would be procured under the government’s fund. But, he added, the replacement of pool vehicles will be allowed with external funding.
It was also decided purchases of new vehicles and replacement will be allowed for time-bound projects. But, they will have to be surrendered to the Ministry of Finance as soon as the project is completed.
