The long-awaited Ninth Pay Scale for government employees in Bangladesh is moving closer to the cabinet stage. A draft proposal has already been finalized by a secretary-level committee and is now being prepared for presentation to the cabinet.
According to people familiar with the process, the proposal could be placed before the cabinet meeting this week if it receives approval from the Prime Minister.
Salary Increase Proposed Under Ninth Pay Scale
The draft proposal recommends a significant increase in the basic salaries of government employees. The highest proposed increase is up to 100 percent.
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However, the proposal does not suggest the same rate of increase for every grade. Instead, the secretary-level committee has recommended a comparatively higher increase for employees in lower grades than for those in higher grades.
The aim is to provide greater salary growth for lower-level government employees under the proposed new pay structure.
Ninth Pay Scale May Be Implemented in Two Steps
One of the key points in the draft is that the Ninth Pay Scale would be introduced in two phases.
In the first phase, the government would increase the basic salaries of employees. The second phase would focus on increasing allowances and other financial benefits.
The final decision on how many stages will be used to implement the pay scale will be taken by the cabinet. Changes or corrections may also be made to different parts of the proposal before it receives final approval.
Implementation Could Start From July
Under the draft plan, partial implementation of the Ninth Pay Scale could begin from July this year.
The government is reportedly targeting full implementation by January 2028. The plan would therefore allow the new salary structure and related benefits to be introduced gradually rather than all at once.
For millions of government employees, the proposed changes could have a direct impact on their monthly income and financial planning.
Special Committee Formed Over Judicial Issues
There are also some complications related to the judiciary that need to be addressed before the Ninth Pay Scale can be finalized.
To deal with these issues, the government has formed a seven-member special committee led by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.
The committee will work on resolving the outstanding issues connected with the judicial sector.
Final Decision Still Pending
Although the secretary-level committee has finalized the draft proposal in principle, it is not yet the final pay scale. The cabinet will have the authority to approve the proposal and decide whether any changes are needed.
The coming cabinet discussion will therefore be an important step in determining how and when the new salary structure will be introduced.
If approved, the Ninth Pay Scale could bring major changes to the salaries and financial benefits of government employees, with the process expected to continue in phases until the targeted full implementation in January 2028.
