KATHMANDU, Nov 15: Parliament's State Affairs Committee (SAC) has decided to set the retirement age for civil servants at 60, revising the existing retirement age of 58 under a new bill which is under discussion at the committee.

The proposed new retirement age will be phased in over four years. The bill proposes increasing the retirement age by six months every year until it reaches 60 years.

Under the proposed bill, a civil servant born in 1960 will retire at the existing age limit of 58 years, whereas someone born in 1961 will retire at 58 years and six months. Those born in 1964 can serve until they are 60.

“The retirement age will increase by six months every consecutive year and will reach 60 years four years hence,” said Sanjay Dahal, the committee secretary. “The State Affairs Committee endorsed proposed revisions to the bill on Thursday,” he added.

The government had proposed keeping 58 years as the retirement age in the Bill on Formation, Operation and Terms and Conditions of the Federal Civil Service, which has been under discussion in parliament for the last 10 months.

But lawmakers proposed a 60-year retirement age with a view to bring about uniformity with other government services, including the health service and the parliament service which have 60 years as retirement age.

The Ministry of Finance, the Public Service Commission and various other government agencies also suggested 60 as retirement age, in view of the increasing life expectancy.

The official trade union of civil servants also lobbied to increase the retirement age.

The SAC decision now requires the endorsement of both houses of parliament and authentication of the bill by the president.

Meanwhile, according to the bill, civil servants will be barred from their pension if they are convicted on any offence related to moral degradation including polygamy or of any criminal charge of acting against the state. They will also be barred if they obtain permanent residency in a foreign country. The lower house SAC revised the bill to include a provision barring civil servants from pension if they are found to be making any statement on mass media or social media against the government and state that could incite violence or cause dispute, or leaking any secret information.

Under the bill, the family of a civil servant who dies during service will get Rs 500,000 as compensation.

 
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