Reform or Overreach?

The government’s decision to revoke the registration of 12 trade unions linked to civil servants and health workers has triggered both praise and concern across the country. Acting under provisions introduced in Ordinance No. 07 of 2083, the Department of Labour and Occupational Safety cancelled the registration of several politically affiliated organizations, including unions representing civil servants and health employees. The move forms part of Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s broader campaign to reduce party influence in universities, the civil service, and public institutions. At one level, the decision addresses a long-standing issue in Nepal. Since the restoration of multiparty democracy, political parties have gradually extended their influence into nearly every professional sector. Civil servants, teachers, professors, journalists, lawyers, health workers, and even former security personnel have become divided along party lines. Transfers, promotions, and institutional decisions have often depended less on competence and more on political proximity. In that sense, efforts to professionalize state institutions deserve support, as a bureaucracy tied to political patronage cannot remain efficient, neutral, or trustworthy indefinitely. Prime Minister Shah has argued that the move aims to create a “clean, free, and professional” civil service and academic environment. He maintains that party politics has weakened universities and public administration while encouraging patronage, sycophancy, and undue influence. His criticism is not without basis. Public frustration over politicized campuses and bureaucratic favoritism has been growing for years. Many citizens have observed competent individuals being sidelined while politically connected figures advance.