While deliberating on the Lhengye Zhungtshog Bill of Kingdom of Bhutan 2020 yesterday, some members of the National Council supported the Social and Cultural Affairs Committee’s recommendation to recruit national employees outside of civil service under the Prime Minister’s Office.
This, the committee mentioned is to meet specialized manpower requirement. However, the particular section drew mixed opinions.
Section 75 under chapter 9 of the Bill states “The Cabinet Secretariat may recruit a maximum of three national employees outside of civil service under the Prime Minister’s Office to meet specialized manpower requirement. The remunerations, allowances and service conditions of those employees shall be determined by the government in consultation with Ministry of Finance and Royal Civil Service Commission”
Some members supported the committee’s recommendation.
“In the country, if there is no individual in the civil service who can meet the special manpower required, the government should be allowed to recruit one or two from outside. If it can help improve the government, this will make a big difference,” said Tenpa Dorji, the Member of Parliament (MP) of Lhuntse.
“For a government to work well, it is important to recruit from outside if there is no one in the civil service meeting the required manpower. If a government does not have the power to recruit even a person, then it would be difficult for a government to work and function well. So I think the government should be allowed to recruit three or five employees if they are in need of special manpower,” added Tashi Samdrup, the Trongsa MP.
Meanwhile, some members said the number of employees to be recruited should not be mentioned.
“When it is mentioned specifically as three, it narrows the space for the government to work. If the government requires ten employees, then it would be difficult. Similarly, the requirement of employees can vary at any time. Therefore I don’t think it has to be specifically mentioned as three,” said Jigme Wangchuk, the Deputy Chairperson of the National Council.
However, Eminent Member Tashi Wangmo raised concerns with regard to recruitment from outside the civil service.
“When we allow recruitment from outside, we should understand what kind of door we are opening. I don’t have any personal grudges but we should abide by the Constitution, As per the constitution, civil servants should remain apolitical. And earlier in section 72, we all agreed that a cabinet secretariat shall be staffed by the civil servants,” said Eminent Member Tashi Wangmo.
The committee has been directed to rework and present it for its final adoption.
Kinley Dem
