Key Takeaways
- Half of National Assembly Secretariat employees will work from home.
- Senate Secretariat employees will work from home only on Fridays.
- Fuel consumption for government vehicles will be reduced by 50 percent.
The government has introduced a series of austerity measures aimed at cutting costs in the National Assembly and Senate secretariats. These measures include work-from-home arrangements and restrictions on vehicle purchases and fuel use.
According to the notification, half of the National Assembly Secretariat employees will work from home, while Senate Secretariat employees will be allowed to work from home only on Fridays. Attendance at Senate offices will remain mandatory from Monday through Thursday.
Employees working from home will not receive daily allowances or overtime payments. The measures also include a 50 percent reduction in fuel consumption for government vehicles and a complete ban on official events.
The secretariats have banned the purchase of new vehicles and ordered a 5 percent reduction in non-development spending. Expenses will be reviewed and reduced on a monthly basis. The ban on the purchase of new vehicles and the reduction in non-development spending are part of the cost-cutting measures.
In addition, the secretariats have banned the purchase of all durable goods except IT equipment. All official foreign trips will be suspended for three months, while official dinners will also be prohibited except those held for foreign delegations.
The measures are part of a broader effort to reduce government expenditure and ensure fiscal responsibility. The government has stated that these steps are necessary to manage the current financial situation and ensure the efficient use of resources.
The notification emphasizes the need for strict adherence to these measures and the review of expenses on a monthly basis to ensure compliance and effectiveness. The government hopes that these measures will help in reducing the overall expenditure and improving the financial health of the secretariats.
