Civil service bill: two-year cooling period, PR holders and polygamists barred, social media comments curbed

The government has proposed a two-year cooling-off period for retired senior civil servants in the Civil Service Bill registered in the Federal Parliament.

The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration registered the bill on Thursday morning.

According to Section 81 of the bill, officials from the Special or First Class gazetted rank who resign or retire will not be eligible for appointment to constitutional, diplomatic or other government positions until two years have passed.

They are also barred from working with the body they served in during their last year before retirement, or with any institution regulated by that body.

They must wait two years before becoming staff or consultants in projects run by bodies other than intergovernmental agencies or international development partners.

However, exemptions are given for civil service reform work, and, under certain conditions, for work related to literature, science, research, culture and sports.

Under Section 18, individuals who practice polygamy or hold foreign permanent residency — such as a PR, Green Card or DV — will be ineligible to enter the civil service.

Section 88 bars employees from commenting on social media for or against political parties or their officials.

They will also not be allowed to promote government work from personal accounts or pages.

The bill also proposes that government employees cannot teach public service exam preparation classes.

A similar bill with a cooling-off period had been passed by both houses of the previous Parliament, but Parliament was dissolved following the Gen Z movement.