Government employees do not work with dedication: Minister Pandey

Kathmandu – Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Minister Badri Prasad Pandey stated that government employees lack a tendency to work with dedication.

Speaking at a meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee on Friday, he made this remark.

He said this while responding to questions raised by lawmakers during the theoretical discussion on the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority Bill, 2081 BS.

Members of Parliament questioned why private airlines operate profitably with fewer staff, yet Nepal Airlines, despite having a large workforce, has failed to improve and turn a profit.

Minister Pandey explained that Nepal Airlines has to carry out ground handling services, which requires a large number of personnel. However, he noted that government employees lack a genuine dedication to their work. He emphasized the need to address this aspect of good governance.

Minister Pandey stated: “You mentioned Himalaya Airlines and Nepal Airlines. Ground handling work must be done by Nepal Airlines. This work demands substantial manpower. For example, around 9.5 million passengers passed through our single TIA (Tribhuvan International Airport). Nepal Airlines should not only handle its own flights, but also most of Himalaya’s flights. There is a difference between government jobs and non-government or private sector jobs. In government jobs, people, as is often said, do not work with full dedication. At least the private sector makes good use of manpower. This is part of good governance—and it’s an area that needs improvement within governance.”

He also mentioned that the Nepal Airlines’ rules and regulations regarding services and terms of employment are being formulated. He added that the government is preparing a homework plan to ensure that Nepal Airlines is not burdened with unnecessary manpower again.