NA panel okays Civil Servants Act tweaks
The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat on Thursday approved the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill 2024 with a majority vote.
The bill proposes several provisions, including mandatory asset declaration for government employees, expediting the right-sizing process, and abolition of redundant departments.
As per the amendment bill, all government employees will be required to declare their assets. The federal government is empowered to abolish or merge departments that are either dormant or have become a financial burden.
The bill also proposed that redundant employees be retrenched after offering them a financial package instead of placing them in a surplus pool. The PBS1-5 jobs will be outsourced to the private sector to reduce pension bills.
The bill also recommends age relaxation for recruitment of civil servants. Young officers may be given up to 10 years of age relaxation for new appointments.
Various members expressed concerns regarding the proposed amendments during the meeting. PML-N leader Tahira Aurangzeb argued that laying off employees from grades 1 to 5 would lead to an increase in crime.
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