Valley
Bill to hike MPs’ pay and perks moved
The Legislature-Parliament on Monday forwarded the bill to revise the pay and perks of lawmakers—a process initiated by the erstwhile KP Sharma Oli-led government.The Legislature-Parliament on Monday forwarded the bill to revise the pay and perks of lawmakers—a process initiated by the erstwhile KP Sharma Oli-led government.
Amid increasing pressure from lawmakers, the Oli government had formed a five-member committee led by CPN-UML Chief Whip Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal, which in the first week of June suggested an increment of 58 percent in the pay and perks.
If the bills get endorsed, which is almost sure, each lawmaker will draw Rs88,925 per month, up from the existing Rs56,228.
Minister Nayak on Friday presented the bill to Parliament seeking approval to proceed with it. The bill was tabled before the House after the Finance Ministry gave its approval. The revision will cost the treasury an additional Rs235 million annually.
Among a dozen lawmakers who took part in theoretical discussion on the bill, half of them spoke against it.
Dilli Kafle of Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party said the decision to hike the pay and perks would send a negative message to the people who are still living in makeshift houses due to incomplete post-earthquake reconstruction.
CPN-UML lawmaker Krishna Bhakta Pokharel said this was not the right time for perks revision. However, all of them voted for the move.
Lawmakers can register proposals to amend the bill within 72 hours. It will then be presented to the House for endorsement.
Once the bill gets endorsed, a lawmaker will receive Rs55,225 as monthly salary, up from Rs44,180, in accordance with the 25 percent pay rise announced in the fiscal budget for government employees.
The perks will also be increased by the same proportion. An MP will now draw Rs33,700 in perks including Rs23,700 for house rent and Rs5,000 for communication. At present, a lawmaker gets Rs12,048 in perks including Rs6,500 for house rent and Rs2,300 for communication.
The transportation allowance will increase six fold to Rs1,000 from Rs150 and meeting allowance to Rs1,500 from the existing Rs200.
According to lawmakers, despite timely increments in salary, perks had not been bettered since 1995.