Taxpayers Are Paying Full Price for Empty Benches

When Parliament is in session, lawmakers are handed one of the most critical responsibilities in any democracy: reviewing laws, holding the government accountable, and representing the voices of millions.
​Yet, during almost every legislative session, the floor is half-empty. Instead of debating policies and scrutinizing national budgets inside the House, many Parliamentarians choose to boycott sittings, stage street protests, or attend political rallies during active working hours.
​Worse still, taxpayers pay for all of it.
​Lawmakers continue to draw full salaries, daily allowances, travel perks, and subsidized amenities—even on the days they choose not to show up for the job they were elected to do.
​In any other profession, skipping work to organize a political demonstration would lead to a pay cut or termination. Why should our elected representatives operate under a double standard?

​Our Call to Action: Restructure Parliamentary Pay & Perks
​We are calling on Parliamentary authorities to immediately reform the compensation structure for Members of Parliament by introducing a strict “No Work, No Pay” policy.
​We demand the following concrete reforms:
​1. Deduct Pay for Session Absenteeism
​Cut Daily Allowances: Daily session allowances must be strictly tied to biometric or digital sign-ins at the beginning and end of each sitting.
​Pro-Rata Salary Reductions: Base monthly compensation must be docked proportionally if a lawmaker fails to meet a mandatory attendance threshold during active sessions without a valid, approved exemption (such as official committee work or documented medical emergencies).
​2. Protests on Personal Time, Not Legislative Time
​Street demonstrations, rallies, and political boycotts are valid democratic rights—but they must be conducted outside active session hours.
​Organizing or participating in street protests during House proceedings must not qualify as official duty, and perks/reimbursements for those days must be automatically withheld.
​3. Compensation Based on House Business
​Perks, daily allowances, and travel reimbursements should only be disbursed to MPs actively contributing to the business of the House—participating in debates, committee sittings, introducing private bills, and casting votes.
​4. Public Attendance Transparency 
​Establish an accessible public portal detailing daily attendance records, voting participation, and the corresponding compensation drawn by every single MP. Citizens have a right to know if their representative is working for them.

5. End Special Tax Exemptions — Treat MPs Like Ordinary Taxpayers: Amend Section 10(17) of the Income Tax Act,  Strip away special tax exemptions on daily allowances and constituency allowances received by lawmakers.  

Equal Tax Parity: Bring MPs entirely under standard Income Tax rules applicable to every citizen. All allowances and benefits should be fully taxable, ensuring representatives contribute to the national exchequer under the same laws they pass for the public.

​Why This Matters Now
​A parliamentary seat is a public trust, not an open-ended privilege. Every hour lost to absenteeism or premature adjournments costs taxpayers millions in wasted operational overhead—all while vital legislation is rushed through without proper debate or delayed indefinitely.
​By linking pay directly to presence and productivity, we can enforce accountability, restore dignity to legislative debates, and ensure our tax money rewards actual public service—not political theater.

​Sign this petition to demand that Parliamentarians show up, do their jobs, or give up their pay!

Note: Working on other issues like incentive based funds, 40 hour work days, and others. Will incorporate them in due time.