The Chairperson of the Legislative Committee, a member from Nyisho-Saephu constituency presented the committee’s report on its review  of the Parliamentary Entitlements (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan 2024 for the Third Reading to the House today.

During the deliberation on the duty vehicle of the members, the option of providing a member with a lump sum amount and exemption of customs duty and sales tax for purchase of a vehicle of 2800 to 3000 cc raised opinions and views by the members that the existing section under the Parliamentary Entitlements (Amendment) Act of Bhutan 2014 be retained, without any amendments. As per the Parliamentary Entitlements (Amendment) Act of Bhutan 2014 under “Chapter 3: Salary, Allowances and Benefits - Transport: Every member of Parliament shall be provided with: a) A lump sum amount to purchase a vehicle; b) Exemption of customs duty and sales tax for purchase of a vehicle not exceeding 3000 cc; c) A monthly driver allowance; and d) A monthly fuel and maintenance allowance.”

Indepth deliberation was carried out regarding the amendment to Section 9, which states, “The salary, allowances, benefits, and other emoluments of a member of Parliament shall not be reduced during their term of service and reduced for the subsequent term.” where some members expressed concerns that this provision might pose challenges in the future, the variation of pay which the Pay Commission according to Article 30 of the Constitution, grants the authority to the Government to constitute a PayCommission, where the Pay Commission’s recommendations will consider the country’s economic environment, and financial stability in upholding the Principle of Equity; citing instances where in a probable future, if the salary of civil and public servants conditions may remain stagnant or required to be reduced, the rigid provision in the law may pose a challenge. 

The members of the Legislative Committee clarified and expressed that it considered the aspects comprehensively, and that the provisions are intended for normal circumstances, and that a state of emergency would call for austerity measures that all Civil and Public Servants alike will have to adhere to. Other members including the Health Minister posed that the intent of this provision proposed by the Committee was seen on one hand, as a problem while on the other, reasonable and preemptive; to address the past Government’s action of having taken their own vehicle entitlements, but reducing the duty vehicle entitlement for the subsequent members of Parliament, which was viewed to be unfair to adopt a legislation, which was ensured that the then members of Parliament was not disadvantaged. 

The key justification of the Committee was reiterated to uphold the integrity of the legislative process to ensure there is no undue influence or political manipulation by any Government in power in the future to vary the benefits and entitlements unfairly, and to ensure that MPs can perform their duties effectively ensuring stability and focus of the members in their duties. Further, a member of the Committee raised, such benefits and entitlements have been reaped by all the past three Parliamentary members which was presented by their duties in representing the people, citing examples of having duty vehicles and taking also the customs and sales tax exemptions, which in comparison to the Fourth Members of Parliament, has been left to no avail of either the two.

The House deliberated each provision of the Bill till section 13 and will continue its deliberation on the remaining proposed provisions tomorrow.