9th Pay Scale: Final Meeting Today; 105% Average Hike Recommended

The government-formed Pay Commission is sitting for its final meeting today, Wednesday (January 21), to finalize the recommendations for the 9th National Pay Scale. The meeting is scheduled for 12:00 PM at the conference room of the Cabinet Division's old building in the Secretariat.

Following the conclusion of the meeting, the Commission is expected to formally hand over the final report to the Chief Adviser at 5:00 PM today. Commission Chairman Zakir Ahmed Khan, accompanied by other members, will submit the report at the State Guest House, Jamuna, in the presence of Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed.

Massive Hike for Low-Income Grades

Sources within the Commission suggest that the new pay scale will feature a significant salary boost, with an average recommendation of a 105% increase. Notably, the Commission is set to propose a 140% salary hike for 20th-grade employees to address the rising cost of living. If approved, the minimum basic pay for this grade would rise from the current Tk 18,000 to Tk 42,000.

Proposals for Senior Officials

For top-tier officials (Grade 1), the Commission is expected to recommend an 80% increase, raising the current salary from Tk 78,000 to Tk 1,40,000. While the implementation of this scale requires an estimated budget of Tk 80,000 crore, current budgetary allocations remain significantly lower, sparking discussions on a phased implementation.

Special Allowances for Professionals

A key feature of this year’s recommendation is the introduction of special allowances for specific professional groups.

• Beneficiaries: Teachers, researchers, doctors, scientists, and engineers.

• The Goal: To recognize the technical importance of these roles, the Commission has suggested that professionals in these sectors receive extra monthly allowances, even if they share the same grade as administrative officers.

"The decision for a 105% average increase was finalized in our last internal meeting," a commission member told reporters on condition of anonymity. "Our focus has been on ensuring a dignified living wage for lower-grade employees while providing incentives for specialized professionals."