Govt nod to pay hike; ratio of increment to be decided from talks

In the wake of continuous demonstrations and blockade inside Singha Durbar, the government on Thursday agreed to raise the salary of the government employees.

A cabinet meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, who is working as the acting PM, agreed to hike the salary.

The Ministry of Finance has been asked to determine the ratio of increment after negotiation with the representatives of the agitating government employees.

The cabinet also decided to strongly deal with the government employees' protest inside Singha Durbar, which has hampered administrative works.

The talks between the representatives of the agitating employees and the government held Thursday evening failed to reach a conclusion as both parties remained firm on their stances. The employees demanded for a hike of Rs 5000 per month across all levels, while the government has proposed for a hike of 12 -15 per cent.

Another round of talks has been called for Friday after the negotiation between the government team comprising Finance Minister Surendra Pandey, General Administration Minister Rabindra Shrestha and Minister for Irrigation Bal Krishna Khand and the representatives of different unions of government employees ended inconclusively, Thursday.

Earlier, the employees had refused to sit for talks protesting against the arrest of their colleagues. The talks began after the arrested employees were released. Police had arrested hundreds of protesters after they obstructed vehicular movement in and out of Singha Durbar.

The cabinet meeting on Thursday has agreed in principle to increase the salary of civil servants. It has entrusted finance minister Pandey to determine the ratio of the increment after negotiation with the employees.

The Finance Minister didn't announce any pay hike but he said the dearness allowances for the government employees had been increased. nepalnews.com