Civil Service Bill Under Scanner

With the government registering the Bill to Amend and Integrate Laws Relating to the Federal Civil Service at the Federal Parliament last Thursday, many employees in government offices and public enterprises have grown jittery, as they may receive a marching order once the bill becomes law. It was registered at Parliament one day before the end of the budget session. The bill will be the major content for deliberation in the upcoming winter session. Opinions are divided over its provisions. The government argues that the proposed amendments bring a paradigm shift in making the civil service accountable, efficient and result-oriented. The critics insist that, with a large number of senior officials being forced into retirement, it will create a big void of experienced and competent employees. 

This is the third time the Federal Civil Service Bill has reached the Parliament. It was supposed to be endorsed immediately after the promulgation of the new constitution in 2015. But the political parties failed to enact the federal law in line with the new administrative structure aimed at decentralising powers among the three tiers of government. The much-awaited federal bill has again taken centre stage in the debate owing to its broader ramifications in the governance system of the country. As per the Bill, employees who are 55 years old or have completed 30 years of service at the time of the introduction of the Act should take compulsory retirement. Then, the retirement age will be extended from the current 58 years to 60. This indeed gives a shocking blow to any employee who is forced to retire just after touching 55 or completing 30 years of service. Therefore, this one-off provision is highly contested.

Massive layoffs