KATHMANDU: The government has significantly curtailed overtime allowances for employees of the Nepal Oil Corporation, limiting the benefit to technical staff working in essential 24-hour operations under the newly approved Nepal Oil Corporation Limited Employee Administration (Eighteenth Amendment) Bylaws, 2026.

The decision, made following directives from Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Gauri Kumari Yadav, means overtime payments will now be provided only to employees directly involved in aviation fuel dispensing, fuel depots, and pipeline operations. Administrative and other non-technical employees will no longer be eligible.

The amended bylaws also require clear justification, prior approval, and verification of workload before overtime can be assigned, with approving authorities instructed to prioritize economy, efficiency, and effectiveness.

The ministry said the changes are aimed at curbing misuse of overtime payments that had been costing the state millions of funds annually.