With bureaucrats rejected by local units, union seeks legal action

Published On: June 7, 2019 08:10 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, June 7: The official trade union of civil servants has demanded legal action against local elected representatives involved in turning back civil servants adjusted or transferred to the local units by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration.

Stating that over 150 civil servants were turned back by various local units in recent months apparently in order to instead appoint individuals who are loyal, the official trade union expressed its serious concern at a national meeting in Kathmandu.

“All local governments in Kathmandu Valley and in Dhading and other districts have barred civil servants deputed or adjusted from the center from working at the local units concerned, and this is becoming a trend,” said union chair Punya Prasad Dhakal at a press meet at Singha Durbar Thursday.

According to the umbrella organization of civil service trade unions, the elected local representatives have pressured and threatened the civil servants not to work at the former’s offices.

A meeting of the mayors and deputy mayors of Kathmandu Valley held in May had decided to allow in civil servants deputed by the federal government as per the needs of the local units.

The civil servants rejected by local representatives have been rendered idle the whole day and they just sign the attendance register at the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration.

Similarly, the official trade union has also sought legal action against civil servants who for no valid reason have been found not attending office at the local unit to which they have been adjusted or transferred. “We are also facing complaints about fellow civil servants not attending their assigned work stations. We suggested to the government to take legal action against them also,” said Dhakal.

The trade union has also demanded implementation of grade-wise salary increments for civil servants adjusted to the local and provincial bodies. According to Ambadutta Bhatta, secretary to the trade union, the government’s commitment to salary increment has not been implemented so far. It has also demanded allowances for all civil servants based on the nature of their work and pressure.