September 4: The Cabinet will take its decision on the report of the Pay Commission in October this year.

Speaking to BBS, Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley said the government will make the full report of the pay commission as well as the decision of the Lhengye Zhungtshog publicly accessible on the website www.mof.gov.bt of the Ministry of Finance before the parliamentary session.

Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley added that as mandated, the Pay Commission has ensured that the compression rate is minimum and not more than 10 times meaning that the difference between the lowest salary and the highest salary should not be more than 10 times.

A release from the Cabinet Secretariat says Lhengye Zhungtshog’s decision will incorporate the additional cost in the draft 10th five year plan.

The Pay Commission’s report along with the input from the government will be submitted for consideration of the parliament in the next session in November, 2008.

As mandated by the Royal Government the first Pay Commission completed its work within the four month period and was submitted to the Hon’ble Prime Minister on August 28, 2008.

As directed by the Prime Minister, the commission made a detailed presentation of its report to the 16th session of the Lhengye Zhungtshog on September 2, 2008. The release from the cabinet secretariat says the report is comprehensive and contains several sections including guiding principles, policy and methodology for pay revision.

The report also makes suggestions on the post service benefits, scarcity allowance as well as practical ways and means to reduce recurrent cost in order to minimize the burden of enhanced salary for the civil servants.

The report also outlines the economic, financial and social implications arising from the recommended pay increase. Therefore the Ministry of Finance was directed to study the report and its ramifications.

All Cabinet Ministers were also directed to study the report and discuss with the Ministry of Finance their ideas on how they implement cost cutting measures as outlined in the report.