Government has proposed a pay revision of 35% for civil servants across the board. However, salaries of local government functionaries will be revised by 45%.
For the elementary service personnel like care-takers, gardeners and sweepers an increase of 61% has been proposed.
The final salary hike proposal prepared by the Cabinet based on the Pay Commission’s report was released today. The report is available on the Finance Ministry’s website www.mof.gov.bt.
20% hike for MPs
Cabinet has proposed a 20 percent hike for the members of parliament. However, the government has decided not to increase the salary of cabinet ministers and other posts of cabinet rank.
The MPs will however receive several allowances and benefits.
The fuel and maintenance allowance has been revised from Nu. 6,000-7,000 per month with an additional driver’s allowance of Nu. 6,000 per month.
The MPS will also get Nu. 2,000 as mobile phone voucher allowance. They are also entitled a discretionary grant of Nu. 100,000 per annum.
No Salary raise for PM, Cabinet Ministers and other posts of Cabinet rank
According to the proposal there is no revision for Prime Minister and equivalent position holders, cabinet ministers and other posts of cabinet rank. The report says the Prime Minister draws pay and allowance equivalent to that of the Cabinet Ministers.
Meanwhile, the discretionary grant allowance for the Prime Minister has been revised to Nu. 300,000 per annum. The same grant for the cabinet ministers has been revised from Nu. 100,000-200,000 per annum.
The pay and allowance applicable to Cabinet Ministers also apply to the National Assembly Speaker. The Parliamentary Entitlement Act 2008 also provides for extension of the same benefits to the National Council Chairperson and the Opposition Leader.
35% hike for constitutional posts holders
The salary revision for constitutional posts holders has also been considered at the same rate as the civil service. However, other entitlements have been revised.
These include a free housing allowance of 20% of their pay for the Chairperson of the ACC, RCSC and the Attorney General. These position holders also receive a mobile allowance of Nu. 1,500 per month.
The commissioners to the RCSC, ACC and the ECB will receive a mobile allowance of Nu. 1,000 per month. They also receive a housing allowance of 20% of their salary.
Similarly the Chief Justice’s pay, allowance and other benefits are equivalent to those of the Cabinet Ministers. The High Court Judges will receive pay and allowance equivalent to executive level one to three in the civil service.
A news release from the Cabinet says the government undertook further study on the pay commission’s report due to uncertain global economic situation and its likely impact of Bhutanese economy.
In its final report, the government has also worked on the revision of several other befits such as difficulty allowance and high altitude allowance.
There is also revision in post retirement and early retirement schemes including enhancing the gratuity scheme. There is also a lump-sum increase for Non-Formal Education (NFE) instructors.
Consideration in the revision of pay, benefits and allowances are subject to debate in the Parliament beginning next week.
The government has however, decided to implement the pay revision from January 2009 to reduce the magnitude of the cost.
According to the report, government will consider a further revision during the 10th plan depending on the economic growth and resource position.
Allowances for medical professionals and teachers
To help improve service delivery of certain sectors, the government has considered revision of allowance for medical and teaching group.
For doctors with masters’ degree and above they will receive an allowance of 20%-40% depending on the number of years in service.
Dentists with master degree and general doctors with MBBS will receive 20%-30% depending on experience. Nurses with diploma certificates will receive allowance of 10%-20%.
The report says only medical professionals engaged in clinical practice are eligible for such allowances.
For the teachers, the government considered extension of allowance for all teachers engaged in teaching practice from 10%-20% depending on the number of years in service.
Source: BBS
