Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering says rumours about around 11,000 civil servants getting managed out are not true. He also reiterated that the government is in no way trying to stop people from leaving for Australia. He shared these during his recent visit to Bumthang and Lhuentse.
While meeting the Dzongkhag staff and employees of regional offices in Bumthang, the Prime Minister said it’s time for public servants to invest in themselves and prepare for assessments in the future.
“While rumours about 11,000 people getting managed out are not true, the civil service system will also not be the same. The middle path is that you have to know your responsibility very clearly. As you work, you have to know what your achievements are and communication between you and your boss and your subordinates has to be clear. Otherwise, you will be caught at one point in time. As and when reviews and assessments are carried out, you will be caught one hundred per cent,” said the Prime Minister.
He also said there are many offices which have redundant staff while some are facing shortages. In such a situation, if there are appropriate vacancies available in offices with shortages, redundant employees could get transferred or else people will have to be managed according to the Prime Minister.
“The reforms are being overseen unconditionally irrespective of whether they are in accordance with the existing laws not. They will cater to what we need and then we try to look into the Acts. The Office of the Attorney General has already been commanded to look into the Acts.”
“Do we need 10 ministries or is 10 enough for example? Likewise, we have so many autonomous agencies which are self-governed and don’t attend to external proposals. This way the system is fragmented. I think a lot of autonomous agencies won’t be kept in the system,” further added the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister also said even as the reforms are underway, losing people to Australia is a cause of concern.
“It’s worrying when more and more people leave for Australia. His Majesty the King is concerned about the situation. Yet, His Majesty said that it’s good that people are leaving for better opportunities as there are no jobs that match the qualification and aspirations of our people within our country.”
“His Majesty also said that Bhutanese don’t leave their country because they don’t like the country but because countries like Australia provide better financial stability. So we are commanded to create a work environment like in Australia with equal earning capacity. That’s what we were commanded to do and not stop people from leaving,” added the Prime Minister.
However, he said all the reforms in the tourism sector, and public and civil service are geared towards retaining people in Bhutan.
Kipchu, Bumthang
