…urges civil and public servants to serve the country

Lhakpa Quendren

All civil and public servants should be entitled to extraordinary leave (EOL), Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said this during the recent Meet-the-Press session.

Following concerns raised by civil servants, the Prime Minister urged individuals to report if they are denied EOL.

“If civil servants are denied EOL, please report it to the government so that we can inform the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) accordingly,” he said.

Civil servants have raised concerns regarding the inconsistency in granting  EOL across different dzongkhags. While some civil servants were allowed to avail themselves of EOL, others were not granted the same opportunity.

Civil servants attribute this inconsistency to the diverse practices of their respective dzongkhag administrations, often leaving them with no choice but to resign.

The Prime Minister also urged civil and public servants to remain in service for the nation if there are no compelling reasons. “If they have a genuine reason to avail themselves of the EOL, then there is no alternative.”

“While we should support their decision to resign or avail of EOL for unavoidable circumstances, this is a critical situation where our nation needs you the most,” he added.

The Prime Minister said that there are several challenges in the country, but the government is determined to overcome them. “We are developing strategies to address these challenges while securing finances.”

“In the next two years, we will work collectively to enhance the economic situation. Together, we will successfully overcome the current challenges,” he said.