The National Council questioned the prime minister, yesterday if the government has plans to regularise contract employees along with Elementary Service Personnel and General Service Personnel. Members said, currently such employees do not get promotions and transfer benefits. Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay acknowledged that there is a need to discuss the issue and provide them with the benefits.
Trashigang MP, Sonam Tobgyel pointed out the drawbacks of the current system of recruiting contract employees, Elementary Service Personnel or ESP, and General Service Personnel or GSP on a three-year term and renewing it. He suggested that these employees should be regularised.
This he said is because though ESP and GSP get loans, pension and provident funds, they do not get promotions and transfers. Contract employees, on the other hand, do not get any of these benefits.
“The main problem is, firstly, they do not have job security, and benefits such as loans, pensions, and provident funds along with vacation and transfer. Similarly, they do not get promotion and career progression.”
Samtse’s National Council MP Tashi Dendup said that the ESP and GSP received a salary raise of 70 to 80 per cent with Nu 3,000 to 4,000 raise during the last pay revision. However, since their basic salary is less, the amount is still not sufficient for them.
“Other employees such as doctors and nurses receive an allowance for their overtime work. However, O level, ESP and GSP do not receive such allowance. This does not seem fair,” said Tashi Dendup, MP, National Council, Samtse.
In response, the prime minister said that there is a need to thoroughly discuss the working hours and the benefits of the ESP and GSP before they are regularised like civil servants.
Regarding contract employees, the prime minister said that the cabinet’s sub-committee is in discussion to give benefits to them by merging them as para-regular employees for a term of five years.
“Everybody agrees that there is a need to give a raise and overtime allowance to ESP and GSP. However, to do that, firstly, there is a need to form a pay commission. Yes, there is a need to raise their salary and give them additional overtime allowance but this has to be decided by the commission.”
There are around 11,000 ESP, GSP and contract employees currently.
Singye Dema & Sangay Chozom
Edited by Kipchu
