08 October, 2008 - The Pay Commission recommended a 77 percent to 40 percent pay hike for all civil servants, but the biggest beneficiaries of the hike will be non civil servants like the prime minister, members of parliament, cabinet ministers, heads of constitutional bodies and the members of the judiciary, many of whom will get more than 77 percent touching even 131 percent.
A reliable source said that even government secretaries, who fall in the 77 percent category, are recommended a 1,200 percent increase in their allowances to match the top bracket.
The Pay Commission’s recommendations had also originally proposed taxes on cars and luxury items to raise revenue apart from cost cutting. The government later decided to drop the tax proposal.
The prime minister has been recommended the highest pay hike at a 131 percent and 35 percent allowance, taking his total salary from Nu 123,067 to Nu 241,000 per month.
Following closely behind are the cabinet ministers, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Speaker of National Assembly, National Council Chairperson with a 67% pay hike and 30% allowance, taking up to Nu 177,667 a salary of Nu 114,733.
Members of parliament were recommended a 100% salary hike and 51% allowance hike, taking their total salary (Nu 30,000 salary and Nu 23,333 allowance) from Nu 53,333 to Nu 95,333.
The posts of chairpersons of constitutional bodies like ACC, Audit, ECB will be getting a 106% salary hike and 1,450% allowance hike taking their previous Nu 34,970 salary to a new Nu 85,500.
The commissioners of constitutional bodies like the ACC or the yet to be constituted permanent RCSC board were proposed a 93% pay hike and 2,300% allowance hike taking their total salary to Nu 67,000 up from Nu 29,000.
The only post to get a minus pay hike is the Chief Justice of the High Court from a previous Nu 114,733 salary to now Nu 92,500 salary.
This is a also an attempt to now give importance to the position of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who will now be the head of the Judiciary. The yet to be appointed judges of the Supreme Court will get Nu 92,500 per month, according to the proposal.
The High Court drangpons have been recommended a 128% salary hike and 206% allowance taking their salary to Nu 85,500 up from 35,200.
The civil servants as a whole in a top down approach have been placed at 77% at the top and 40% at the bottom.
Going by the recommendation, government secretaries will draw Nu 76,040 up from Nu 36,670. The director or grade II bureaucrats like senior director generals and directors will get a 62% salary hike, taking their total salary from Nu 30,425 to Nu 48,938.
The rest of the bulk of bureaucrats will fall between the 60% to 40% bracket in a top-down approach with the lowest category getting the 40% hike.
Meanwhile, the ministry of finance is studying the pay commission recommendations to see how much hike will be possible and how the resources will be met. However, the proposal will then have to be approved by the cabinet and the parliament, where changes can happen.
By Tenzing Lamsang
