𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬, 𝐒𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

…𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓 11,500 𝑪𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒍 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝑬𝒙𝒊𝒕 𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 2019

By Lhendup Wangmo

Royal Civil Service Commission’s 2019-2024 report showed that over 11,500 civil servants have left their positions between 2019 and 2023, primarily due to retirement, voluntary resignation, and the completion of contracts. With a current workforce of around 29,000 civil servants, the Opposition Leader’s call for action comes at a critical moment for Bhutan’s public sector.

During his recent visits to constituencies, Pema Chewang, the Opposition Leader (OL) observed that many local government offices are struggling with staffing gaps, as a large number of experienced civil servants retire or leave their positions. These vacancies are placing a strain on local administration, making it difficult for agencies to function efficiently. The OL expressed concern that this trend could undermine the government’s goals set out in the 13th Five-Year Plan, which relies heavily on the civil service to drive national development.

OL also pointed to broader organizational issues within the civil service, including a lack of coordination between national planning, budgeting, and reporting. He said that these inefficiencies have slowed progress and created confusion about responsibilities. He suggested that recent reforms aimed at consolidating government agencies to improve governance and service delivery have not yet delivered the expected results.

Another point of concern raised was the current performance appraisal system. The Opposition Leader censure the forced ranking system, which he believes has negatively impacted morale and created unhealthy competition among civil servants. Despite recommendations from Parliament to remove this system, it remains in place, leading to growing dissatisfaction among the workforce.

To address these challenges, OL reiterated Parliament’s call for a significant increase in funding for Human Resource Development, with a proposed budget increase to Nu 4.9 billion as part of the 13th Five-Year Plan. This funding, he argued, is crucial for strengthening the civil service and ensuring that it is adequately staffed and equipped to meet the demands of public administration.

The Opposition Leader’s remarks accentuated the urgent need for reforms to strengthen the civil service and ensure it can effectively support the government’s development agenda. Addressing the current staffing shortages, improving internal coordination, and enhancing the performance assessment system are seen as key steps in maintaining the civil service’s ability to serve the country’s growing needs.