The National Council today decided to halt the pay revision for the non-civil service and the government secretaries until the economic situation improves. Non-civil service includes the prime minister, the cabinet ministers and equivalent post holders, members of parliament, constitutional post holders, constitutional post holders under judiciary, Privy Council and the Attorney General.
The House also decided to bring the salary percentage of the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson. The House decided the salary basis should be Nu. 65,930, which is equivalent of an MP’s salary.
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From the MP’s salary, the House proposed that 10 percent more should be given to the Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairperson, 50 percent more to the ministers and equivalent post holders, and the Prime Minister should be 100 percent more.
The members also expressed concerns that the government’s proposal to generate revenue in order to meet the salary hike is based on assumptions.
The Finance Minister, Namgay Dorji, while presenting the report said that the pay revision was an effort to catch up with the growing inflation. He added that it was also because that the government had pledged during their election campaigns.
However, the members said the pay revision defeated the government very own purpose of austerity measures and their pledge of improving the country’s economic situation.
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The eminent member, Tashi Wangyal, said that the pay revision came at a wrong timing. He said despite the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund hinting on country’s bad economy the government went ahead with the pay raise.
While others members also raised similar concerns over the country’s economy some said, henceforth, political parties should even do away with the pledge of salary revision during their campaigns, lest it risk the country’s economy.
Some members said the brunt will be borne by private sector employees and those in the rural pockets. “The pay revision will further widen the gap between the high and low income groups,” some members pointed out.
The recommendations passed by the House will now be discussed in the National Assembly.
