The commission set salaries under the new pay scale

The National Pay Commission has recommended significant revisions to the pay structure for government employees, proposing marked increases in both the minimum and maximum basic salaries. According to the Commission’s draft, the minimum basic salary would be set at 20,000 taka, while the maximum would rise to 160,000 taka.

Sources within the National Pay Commission confirmed that the existing 20 salary grades for government officials will remain unchanged under the new pay scale framework. However, the proposal suggests nearly doubling the basic salaries across the board. Other allowances and benefits, including house rent and medical provisions, are expected to remain consistent with the current arrangements.

Under the proposed structure, an employee in the 20th grade would receive a basic salary of 20,000 taka. Including allowances, such an employee in Dhaka could earn a total monthly remuneration of approximately 42,000 taka. At the other end of the spectrum, the maximum basic salary of 160,000 taka represents a considerable increase from the current levels, where secretaries earn 78,000 taka, senior secretaries 82,000 taka, and cabinet secretaries or the Prime Minister’s Chief Secretary 86,000 taka.

The Commission has also recommended raising the Baishakhi allowance from 20% to 50%. Furthermore, transport allowances are proposed to be extended to all employees from the 10th to the 20th grade, an increase from the current scheme which applies only from the 11th grade upwards.

Significant changes have also been proposed for pensioners. Individuals receiving pensions below 20,000 taka per month could see an almost 100% increase, those receiving between 20,000 and 40,000 taka may get around a 75% rise, and those with pensions exceeding 40,000 taka could see approximately 55% growth.

The Commission’s head and former Finance Secretary, Zakir Ahmed Khan, stated that the report is ready for submission to the Chief Adviser. He described the proposed pay structure as a ‘substantial and favourable package’ for government employees.

Currently, nearly 1.5 million government officials receive salaries and allowances under the 2015 pay scale. Experts suggest that the implementation of the new pay scale could transform the income and standard of living for public sector employees across the country.

Proposed Basic Pay Structure Highlights

The National Pay Commission’s proposals reflect an ambitious effort to modernise government compensation and align it more closely with inflation, cost of living, and employee welfare.