Government Initiates Salary Payment Process Within 15 Days for Employees

The government has implemented a pilot project to ensure salary payments to employees within 15 days, starting from Baishakh 16. Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle inaugurated the initiative, emphasizing that the government aims to stimulate the economy through timely salary disbursements. The Office of the Auditor General has also announced plans to gradually extend the 15-day salary payment system to provincial and other government employees.

Baishakh 16, Kathmandu – The government officially began paying employees their salaries within 15 days from this past Saturday. The Finance Ministry confirmed that this pilot project has been operational since Wednesday. At a ceremony held at the Finance Ministry, Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle formally launched the 15-day salary payment system. Salaries of employees under the Office of the Auditor General are now entered into the computerized Government Accounting System (SIGAS), through which the payment orders are sent to the Treasury Controller’s Office. Minister Wagle personally inaugurated the salary payment initiative within 15 days.

The Finance Ministry staff have already received their first half-month salary for Baishakh. Minister Wagle highlighted that paying salaries within 15 days is a deliberate government decision aimed at revitalizing the economy. “If salaries are paid within 15 days, the market becomes active, increasing consumption and demand,” he stated. “This pilot project currently applies to federal civil servants and will progressively cover all government employees receiving salaries.”

Shobhakanta Paudel, Auditor General, stated that salaries for provincial and other government employees will also be disbursed within 15 days in due course. He assured that his office is technically prepared to implement this process step-by-step. According to him, the current system allows for salary payments to be made as soon as an employee requests, within either 15 days or one month. The half-month salary payments are expected to create steady market demand, thereby enhancing economic vitality. Moreover, this initiative will balance consumer spending and increase cash flow for small businesses, Paudel added. He also expressed expectations that the 15-day salary payment will positively impact the service sector and boost the digital economy. On Baishakh 4, Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle decided to advance the pilot project to provide government employees with salaries every 15 days.