**Government Employees Awaiting New Salary Scale as Cabinet Approval Exceeds 15 Days**
The wait for government employees to see the new pay scale in action seems unending, even after the cabinet’s approval 15 days ago. The proposed gazette notification, which was expected to be issued soon after the approval, is yet to be released. The delay has left government employees wondering about the reasons behind it.
Sources close to the matter have revealed that various aspects of the new pay scale are currently under scrutiny. Once these processes are complete, the proposal will be sent to the Law Ministry for vetting. After the vetting process, the notification will be issued by the Finance Ministry.
Dr. Rashed Al Mahmut Titumir, the Prime Minister’s advisor on finance and planning, has confirmed that each step of implementing the pay scale is being carried out meticulously. He also stated that there’s no room for questioning whether it will be implemented or not.
Previously, the last national pay scale for government employees was announced in 2015. After nearly three months of approval from the cabinet, the Finance Ministry issued the gazette notification. Before that, various aspects of the pay scale and legal and administrative issues were reviewed.
Initially, it was anticipated that the new pay scale, approved by the cabinet on August 31, would be gazetted promptly. However, despite the passage of over 15 days, no such action has been taken.
It has been reported that the Finance Division is actively working on drafting the gazette notification. Special orders (SROs) for five different categories of government employees across various institutions are expected to be issued.
The cabinet has primarily approved the increase in salary and allowances for each grade. Now, the detailed guidelines on how the new pay scale will be implemented for different officials and employees are being formulated.
Separate directives will be issued for employees of organizations outside the purview of ordinary administration, such as the defense forces, BGB, police, government financial institutions, and autonomous institutions. A high-level committee of secretaries is overseeing the integration and supervision of these matters.
Dr. Rashed Al Mahmut Titumir further explained that a specific procedure has been followed regarding the pay scale. First, the committee of secretaries reviewed and approved the suggestions. Then, the cabinet endorsed them. Now, the process of quickly implementing these suggestions is underway.
The new pay scale, which retains the existing 20 grades, sets the minimum salary at Tk 20,000 and the maximum at Tk 1,56,000. It is set to come into effect from July 1. Former secretary Abdul Auwal Majumdar has emphasized the importance of scrutinizing the language, phrases, and legal terminology used in the draft gazette. Additionally, related statutory orders should also be reviewed.
Former secretary A.K.M. Abdul Auwal Majumdar has stated that a government should not pass on decisions that it cannot implement to the next government. He deemed it unethical. However, he agreed that the reports of the Pay Commission should be implemented. If the government wishes to implement it gradually over two or three years, it should also give government employees that time, as there is no alternative.
In its election manifesto, the BNP promised to introduce the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ system for government employees. However, due to the absence of necessary information about civil servants who retired before 2019, this system is planned to be gradually implemented by 2030.
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