By SU MYAT MON | FRONTIER
NAY PYI TAW — Lawmakers from Pyithu Hluttaw on Thursday approved a proposal urging more recognition for high-performing civil servants.
Sixteen lawmakers spoke in support of the proposal, submitted by U Aye Min (National League for Democracy, Kayan), for civil servants to be given more awards and opportunities.
Aye Min said the government should create a positive working environment for its employees, and that the granting of awards, scholarships and foreign trips could play a role.
Lieutenant-Colonel Kyaw Thiha said the government recognises hard-working and exception staff with awards handed out every Independence Day, on January 4.
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“In addition, what I want to suggest is that the law should be amended so the system of measuring performance of staff is clean and free from corruption,” he said, adding that this will ensure civil servants work together as a team.
Daw Thet Thet Khine (NLD, Dagon) said that the problem in the bureaucracy was less about the legal framework than its application. Staff are often not being put in the best position to utilise their skills, she said.
She advocated for a performance management system based on providing staff with the information and authority to perform their job properly. Their performance should then be evaluated and then rewarded as necessary.
Laws concerning civil servants should be applied equally across all ministries, she added.
U Win Thein, chairman of Union Civil Service Board, responded that the government is already recognising its staff. In 2017 and 2018, the government has given awards to 216,226 people, he said.
