Kathmandu, Oct 27: Nepal's government has begun preparations to introduce a federal civil service ordinance, with work reportedly starting immediately after the Dashain festival, according to a high-level source at the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration cited by enewspolar. The ordinance has not been issued in the reports, and the preparations have not been announced as a final government decision.

Source: enewspolar via Hamro Patro

The government registered the Federal Civil Service Bill, 2083 BS, in the House of Representatives on October 1, but the parliamentary session ended the following day, October 2, enewspolar reported. Although the government had initially planned to table the bill during the upcoming winter session, it is now preparing to introduce the law through an ordinance without waiting for the regular legislative process, the report said.

Source: enewspolar via Hamro Patro

The reports have renewed anxiety among civil servants. Peoples' Review reported that 176 civil servants resigned in October after the bill was registered, most of them having served for more than 30 years, and that before the bill was registered, 790 employees who had completed 30 years of service and reached the age of 55 had already resigned amid similar rumours. Since offices reopened after the Dashain holiday, employees who have completed 30 years of service have been reporting to work with resignation letters in their pockets, fearing an ordinance could affect their retirement benefits, the report said.

Source: Peoples' Review

176Civil servants reported to have resigned in October after the bill was registered
790Employees reported to have resigned earlier amid similar rumours
30 years or 55Proposed retirement trigger — service completed or age reached

Under the proposal described in the reports, civil servants would face mandatory retirement on completing 30 years of service or reaching the age of 55, and pension calculations would be limited to a maximum of 30 years of service even for employees who have served longer. An official at the Federal Parliament Secretariat told Peoples' Review that employees approaching the age limit of 55 were less worried if they had not completed 30 years of service, while those with more than 30 years of service remained anxious.

Source: Peoples' Review

An official at the Ministry of Federal Affairs said employees retiring at 55 were less concerned because their pension calculations could include up to three additional years, and that they could choose to accept the benefits or seek legal remedies, Peoples' Review reported. The report also noted that Section 58 of the Civil Service Act states that the terms and conditions of service applicable at the time of appointment, including salary, gratuity, pension and other benefits, cannot be changed without an employee's consent if the changes adversely affect them — a provision that offers employees a legal basis to challenge changes that reduce their retirement benefits without consent.

Source: Peoples' Review