Press Release – Civil Servants’ Welfare Scheme- November 9, 2015

The RCSC launched the Civil Servants’ Welfare Scheme (CSWS) on the 9th of November as part of the nationwide celebrations to commemorate the 60th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. The CSWS, ‘of, by and for’ the civil servants, is inspired by His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo’s oft stated view that people should not turn to the government for everything and that instead, they should strive to do as much as they can.

The Civil Servants’ Welfare Scheme that has been launched, is an insurance scheme to provide some financial aid – semso – in the difficult time of death of themselves or their direct dependents. The simple scheme entails collection of monthly contributions from member civil servants and pay out of ‘semso’ grants at the time of death. The contributions are based on the four Position Categories of the Civil Service while the benefits are the same for all, a reflection of the Civil Service values of helping more those who need it most. A unique feature of the scheme is free membership for superannuated civil servants and coverage for their spouse, for life, in recognition of life-long dedicated service to Tsa Wa Sum. This is one of the interventions that is being introduced in line with the desire of the Commission to find ways to provide support to civil servants who have given a lifetime of service.

Out of 25,410 regular civil servants, there are 19,855 civil servants enrolled as members to CSWS. 5,264 have not been accounted for since civil servants in some agencies are still in the process of considering the option (to be or not to be a member) while a certain number of them have not been able to enroll on account of their absence for long-term study, secondment, medical leave, EOL, etc. Only 291 civil servants have opted out from the scheme. Post launch, membership in the CSWS will be compulsory for all new regular civil servants.

As the scheme matures, it could cover other exigencies as decided by the Commission/Board of Trustees. Over the longer term, the plan is to evolve this scheme into a Credit Union that can provide more competitive financial products to its members as they will be the owners. Such credit unions are common in large institutions.

The purpose of operationalizing the CSWS on this day is to humbly honor His Majesty the 4th Druk Gyalpo who has steered the nation through unprecedented progress and prosperity within a short span of 34 years. By introducing this scheme as well as other interventions as part of the promotion of Civil Service Wellbeing effort by the present Commission, it is hoped that we can continue to attract the best and the brightest to the Civil Service and retain and motivate them to work above and the beyond the call of duty to secure the Nation’s security, sovereignty and self reliance into the future. On behalf of all the civil servants, we wish His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo a long and happy life.