The board members and executives of public mining companies take home exorbitant salary, without any ceiling, criticised the National Council members, yesterday.
The members said mines belong to the state and its people and it should benefit them. They added no individual should have authority to take advantage of the huge income earned through mines and quarries.
As per the NC’s special committee report on mines and quarry, the Chief Executive Officer of Jigme Mining Corporation Limited in Samtse, a public company under the Lhaki Group of Companies, is paid a monthly salary of Nu.500,000.
The report said the salary is extremely high as compared to monthly salary of the CEOs of the state-owned corporations and enterprises.
The Samtse NC MP, Sangay Khandu, said in absence of any legal provisions, board and executive members of the public mining companies also decide their own salaries.
Thimphu’s MP also spoke about the board members and CEOs taking donations from the companies they work for.
The Eminent Member of the Upper House, MP Tashi Wangmo said a way forward must be thought out to avoid such happenings in the future.
Following a thorough deliberation, the house finalized that the special committee must take note of the recommendations including the need to amend the companies act. They also said the committee should include the draft recommendations which will be discussed tomorrow.