Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, has expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of government employees, stating that they lack the dedication needed to fulfill their duties effectively.
Speaking at a meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee on Friday, Minister Pandey highlighted a noticeable difference between government and private sector employees. “There is a clear difference between public and private work ethics,” he said. “People generally do not work with the same level of commitment in government jobs. The private sector, on the other hand, is more efficient even with limited manpower. This is an issue of good governance that needs serious reform.”
Lawmakers questioned why Nepal Airlines continues to struggle with high manpower costs and inefficiency, while private airlines manage to run profitably with fewer staff.
In response, Minister Pandey clarified that Nepal Airlines is responsible for ground handling operations at Tribhuvan International Airport, which naturally requires more personnel. “Nepal Airlines handles not only its own ground operations but also those of other airlines like Himalaya Airlines. For example, around 9.5 million passengers passed through the airport, and Nepal Airlines had to manage ground handling for most of them,” he said.
He further acknowledged that the lack of commitment among government employees adds to the burden and that structural changes are necessary to improve performance.
Minister Pandey also informed the committee that a new regulation is being prepared concerning the service conditions and staffing policies of Nepal Airlines. “We are working on ensuring that the airline does not carry the financial burden of excessive staffing,” he added.
The Minister emphasized the need for improved governance and accountability within state-owned enterprises, particularly in the aviation sector.