Kathmandu Metropolitan City Government Unveils 100-Point Agenda for Governance Reform, Including Proposal to Abolish Political Trade Unions in Public Administration

Kathmandu. The administration led by Balen Shah unveiled a 100-point agenda related to governance reform on Saturday evening. Among these agendas, point number 12, passed by the cabinet meeting held on Friday, mentions the abolition of political trade unions in public administration.

A segment of that point reads, 'To end partisan interference and informal pressure by abolishing political trade unions in public administration, thereby making the decision-making process and service delivery effective.'

The point in detail is as follows:

12. To make public administration completely free from political interference, impartial, neutral, and accountable to citizens. For this purpose, it shall be mandatory for civil servants, teachers, professors, and all public servants to perform their duties free from direct or indirect affiliation with any party, group, or interest center, and strict departmental action shall be taken in accordance with prevailing law if violated. Furthermore, to end partisan interference and informal pressure by abolishing political trade unions in public administration, thereby making the decision-making process and service delivery effective. For this, necessary legal arrangements, especially the Federal Civil Service Bill, shall be drafted within 45 days.

However, the employee organizations have initially expressed disagreement with this agenda item of the government. They stated their belief that a democratic government would not abolish organizations that are openly functioning as per the provisions in the Constitution and the Civil Service Act.

Uttam Katwal, President of the Nepal Civil Service Union, stated that the agenda mentions 'political trade unions in public administration,' whereas they are not registered based on political affiliation.

'Firstly, the agenda mentions political trade unions; we are not political,' Katwal told Ratopati. 'We registered the union after fulfilling the requirement of 5,000 seat rolls, including civil servants, registered in 20 districts. We are operating after being registered according to the Constitution and the Act.'

He informed that the agenda has not yet been finalized and since the government has stated it will bring the Civil Service Act within 45 days, they will proceed based on how it is formulated. He added that they will decide how to proceed based on how they present themselves in discussions called by the government after the details emerge. The Union is a well-wisher organization of the Nepali Congress.

Bhawani Neupane, President of the Nepal Civil Servants Organization, expressed confidence that a government elected through a democratic process would not infringe upon the rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

'We have been running the organization legally established. The current government is also a democratic government. We trust that democracy will not silence people,' President Neupane told Ratopati. 'We will hold a meeting to determine our stance on the agenda item. We are also consulting legal experts.'

The Nepal Civil Servants Organization is close to the CPN-UML.

Meanwhile, Ambadatta Bhatta, President of the Rastriya Civil Servants Organization, close to the then CPN (Maoist Centre), stated that they should not be called partisan as they were not formed based on the recommendation of a political party mentioned in the party's statute. He also stated that they are registered as a trade union according to the provisions mentioned in the law.

'The word 'partisan' has appeared in the government's agenda. We are not an organization registered based on the recommendation of a political party mentioned in the statute of a political party,' President Bhatta told Ratopati. 'We are registered as a trade union according to laws and regulations. We are established in accordance with international norms, the Constitution, and the law. If it is proven that we are partisan, we are ready to debate and discuss it.'

On the other hand, Saran Gurung, President of the Independent Employees Organization, reacted that the right to employee trade unions is guaranteed by the Constitution and provided for by the Civil Service Act. He stated that calling them partisan is inappropriate because the Civil Service Act stipulates that no employee should join a political party.

'The right to trade unions is guaranteed by the Constitution. It is also provided for by the Act,' Gurung told Ratopati. 'The Civil Service Act mandates that no employee should join a party. Therefore, calling them partisan is inappropriate. If the decision is not to grant trade union rights, we must object, asking why the rights given by the Constitution and the Act should be taken away.'

He also mentioned that employees need to transform in line with the times. 'Employees must also transform and move forward with the times. We are conscious of the need for employees to reform,' Gurung said.