Proposal to Grant Pension to Parliamentary Staff After 15 Years Rejected by Committee

Kathmandu: The parliamentary staff pension proposal rejected by the Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee under the House of Representatives has sparked debate among lawmakers and the public.

During discussions on a government bill to amend certain Nepal Acts, some Members of Parliament (MPs) proposed a provision to allow parliamentary staff to receive pensions after just 15 years of service. However, the committee firmly rejected this amendment, citing legal and procedural inconsistencies.Why the Parliamentary Staff Pension Proposal Was Rejected

Committee Chairperson Bimala Subedi explained that the government’s original bill did not propose any amendments related to pensions. Therefore, introducing a change to the ‘Federal Parliament Secretariat Act 2007’ without proper legislative procedures was deemed inappropriate.

“It was unsuitable to amend an Act through a bill that had no such amendment proposal,” Subedi stated. Consequently, the parliamentary staff pension proposal was dismissed.

Currently, under the existing law, parliamentary staff must serve at least 20 years to qualify for a pension, calculated based on their final salary and years of service, as outlined in Article 50 of the Act.

MPs Supported the Parliamentary Staff Pension Proposal Despite Rejection

Despite the committee’s decision, 17 MPs from parties including the CPN-UML, Nepali Congress, CPN-Unified Socialist, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP), and several independents supported the amendment.

Their proposed change suggested that employees appointed with a maximum age limit of 45 years could become eligible for pensions if their service period was extended by up to five years when necessary.

However, since this targeted a law not opened for revision by the government, the parliamentary staff pension proposal could not move forward.

Details of the Proposed Changes in Parliamentary Staff Pension Rules

The amendment aimed to address concerns about late-career staffers who might otherwise struggle to meet the 20-year pension requirement. By extending the service term, MPs hoped to offer pension security to a broader group of parliamentary employees.

Yet, legal experts warned that passing such changes without proper legislative channels could create dangerous precedents for Nepal’s legal system.

Legal Reasons Behind the Parliamentary Staff Pension Proposal Rejection

According to committee members, changing a law not initially intended for amendment violates parliamentary norms. The committee emphasized the need for transparency and due process to uphold the credibility of lawmaking in Nepal.

Thus, even though there was political support across multiple parties, the parliamentary staff pension proposal was rejected unanimously within the committee.

What Happens After the Parliamentary Staff Pension Proposal Was Rejected?

Meanwhile, the committee has passed the “Bill to Amend Certain Nepal Acts,” excluding the controversial pension proposal. The bill is now scheduled to be presented during the House of Representatives session on Sunday at 11 AM.

Committee Chairperson Subedi will formally present the report during the meeting, ensuring the legislative process remains intact without any unapproved changes.