9th pay scale gazette published
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
The gazette notification for the ninth pay scale of government employees has been published on Saturday.
On 31 August, the Cabinet approved the new pay scale increasing the salaries up to 142 percent. At that time, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani said the notification would be published within a week; however, the gazette notification was issued after nearly three weeks.
Earlier on Monday, a partial draft was sent from the Finance Division to the Ministry of Law for vetting. Then the remaining portion was also sent to the ministry. The gazette was published following approval from the Ministry of Law.
For government employees, the eighth pay scale was implemented in 2015. Since then, no pay scale had been framed for nearly 12 years. As a result, they demanded a new pay scale.
Under the new pay scale, from the first to eleventh grades, salaries have been increased by up to 100 percent. The salary for the 20th grade has been increased by 142 percent and fixed at Tk 20,000.
The fixed basic salary for the first grade has increased from Tk 78,000 to Tk 1,56,000. Salaries have been increased by 115 percent in the 12th grade, 118 percent in the 13th grade, 130 percent in the 14th grade, 135 percent in the 15th grade, 135 percent in the 16th grade, 138 percent in the 17th grade, 139 percent in the 18th grade, 141 percent in the 19th grade, and 142 percent in the 20th grade.
Under the new pay scale, the salary ratio between the lowest and highest grades has been reduced from 1:1.945 to 1:1.78.
Following approval in the Cabinet, Gani said the national pay scale would take effect from 1 July, but implementation will occur in phases.
The pay scale will be implemented sequentially across the 2026-27 and 2027-28 fiscal years, with priority given to low-income employees, particularly those in the 10th-20th grades.
Between 1 July 2026 and 1 July 2027, the basic salary will be implemented in three phases. Various allowances will take effect from 1 January 2028 while net pensions for retirees will also be increased step by step.
Due to the salary hike for around 24 lakh government employees, the government will incur an additional annual expenditure of Tk 1,05,580 crore. The government said separate financial allocations will be made in the fiscal year budget.
