The Secretaries’ Committee has finalised recommendations for the proposed Ninth National Pay Scale, which suggests increasing the basic salary of government employees by up to 100 per cent.
This proposal covers all employees across the first to 20th grades.
According to the final report signed on Monday, the implementation is planned in two phases: the basic salary will be effective in the first year, followed by house rent and other allowances in the second year.
The recommendations now await final approval from the Cabinet, after which the specific implementation date will be announced.
Speaking after a meeting on the pay structure at the Secretariat, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said the new scale would be implemented within the current year.
He noted that further discussions are required before a final decision is reached, as the Pay Commission involves various considerations.
Prior to this, ABM Abdus Sattar, principal secretary to the prime minister, informed journalists that the new scale is in its final stages and could be declared at any time.
He added that 1.8 million government officials and employees have been under significant inflationary pressure, as no new pay scale has been introduced in the last 11 years.
Sattar emphasised that despite challenges faced by the people, it is necessary to adjust the living standards of government employees.
What’s the hike?
The 23-member Ninth National Pay Commission was originally formed towards the end of the interim government’s tenure led by Muhammad Yunus.
That commission recommended increasing the minimum basic salary from Tk8,250 to Tk20,000 and the maximum from Tk78,000 to Tk1,60,000.
Following the BNP government’s ascent to power, a 10-member committee headed by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani was established to review and report on these recommendations.
During the budget presentation in Parliament on 11 June, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury declared that the new pay structure would be implemented from 1 July.
For the 2026-27 fiscal year, a budget of Tk89,836 crore has been allocated for the salaries and allowances of government officials and employees.
