The implementation of the Ninth National Pay Scale has once again come under uncertainty as the government has ordered a further review of the proposed salary structure before its final approval.
The draft recommendations for the new pay structure are reportedly close to completion. However, a new issue involving the salary structure of the Judicial Service has emerged at the final stage. Members of the Judicial Service are seeking allowances equal to 100 percent of their basic salary. Because of this demand, the Prime Minister’s Office has instructed officials to review the matter more carefully before the gazette is issued.
New Review of the Ninth National Pay Scale
The latest development means the implementation process of the Ninth National Pay Scale may take more time. The Finance Division is preparing for a final review of the report submitted by the Bangladesh Judicial Service Pay Commission-2025.
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According to sources in the Finance Division, the Prime Minister recently held an informal meeting with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury. The meeting focused on the financial impact of the proposed pay scale, its possible implementation schedule and the need to maintain a balance between different salary structures.
The Prime Minister reportedly instructed the authorities to examine the commission’s recommendations and the demands of the Judicial Service in greater detail. Any inequality or inconsistency in the proposed salary structure should be addressed before a final decision is made.
Government Looking at Economic Pressure
The government is also considering the current economic situation while reviewing the new pay structure. Rising inflation, higher living costs and financial pressure are among the issues being considered.
Officials are examining whether the implementation of the new salary structure could have a significant impact on government spending and the cost of living for ordinary people. There is also discussion about whether the implementation schedule should be pushed back further.
The government’s main challenge is to provide better salaries to public employees while keeping the additional financial burden within a manageable level.
Committee to Review Judicial Service Salary Structure
A seven-member high-level committee headed by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury is expected to meet soon to review the Judicial Service salary structure.
The committee had earlier scheduled a meeting on August 12. However, the meeting could not take place because some members were absent.
At its first meeting, the committee is expected to discuss the full report of the Judicial Service Pay Commission and its key recommendations.
Special attention will be given to the salaries, allowances and other benefits of judges. The committee will also examine how much additional money the government would need if the proposed structure is implemented and how that additional cost could be managed.
Proposed Salary Increase Could Reach 140 Percent
Another important development came on August 12, when a committee led by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani reviewed the recommendations of the National Pay Commission, Judicial Service Pay Commission and Armed Forces Pay Committee.
The committee prepared a new proposal in which basic salaries could increase by around 100 to 140 percent depending on the grade.
Interestingly, the proposal gives a higher percentage of increase to employees in lower grades compared with those in higher grades. This approach is aimed at giving greater salary support to lower-paid government employees.
Pay Scale May Be Implemented in Two Phases
The latest proposal also suggests implementing the new salary structure in two stages.
Under the proposed system, the first stage would focus on increasing basic salaries. Housing allowances, medical allowances and other benefits could then be introduced in the following year.
Such a two-step approach could help the government manage the financial pressure of implementing the new pay structure.
However, the final decision has not yet been made. The Judicial Service’s additional demands and the government’s overall financial position remain important factors in determining the final structure.
Long Wait for a New Salary Structure
The last national pay scale was announced in 2015, when the Eighth National Pay Scale was introduced. Since then, living costs and inflation have increased significantly, but government employees have not received a new national salary structure.
After a long wait, the government started the process of introducing the Ninth National Pay Scale. However, financial limitations and differences between the demands of various sectors have made the process more complicated.
The latest review of the Judicial Service salary structure has added another layer of uncertainty. Until the government completes its assessment and reaches a final decision, the exact timing and structure of the Ninth National Pay Scale remain unclear.
For government employees under (Ninth National Pay Scale) who have been waiting for a new salary structure for years, the next decisions from the review committees will therefore be closely watched.
[…] Ninth National Pay Scale Faces Fresh Uncertainty Over Judicial Service Demands […]