Tk 80,000 Crore Needed for 9th Pay Scale, Govt Allocates Tk 22,000 Crore for Phase-I

As the National Pay Commission sits for its final meeting today, Wednesday (January 21), a significant fiscal challenge has emerged. While the full implementation of the proposed 9th National Pay Scale is estimated to require between Tk 70,000 and Tk 80,000 crore, the government has so far allocated only Tk 22,000 crore in the revised budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

The 21-member commission, headed by former Finance Secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan, is currently meeting at the Secretariat to finalize the draft. The report will be formally handed over to the Chief Adviser at the State Guest House, Jamuna, at 5:00 PM today in the presence of Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed.

Phased Rollout Strategy

To manage the massive financial requirement, the government has adopted a phased implementation strategy:

• Partial Implementation: Set to begin retroactively from January 1, 2026. The allocated Tk 22,000 crore is intended to cover this initial phase.

• Full Implementation: Expected from July 1, 2026, coinciding with the start of the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Focus on Lower-Tier Employees

The Commission’s recommendations emphasize closing the wealth gap by providing higher percentage increases for lower-grade staff.

• Minimum Wage Hike: The current minimum basic pay of Tk 8,250 is expected to more than double.

• Senior Grade Adjustments: The maximum basic pay, currently at Tk 78,000, is projected to exceed Tk 120,000.

• Disparity Ratio: The Commission has maintained a strict 1:8 ratio between the lowest and highest pay grades.

The Road Ahead

Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed informed reporters on Tuesday that the government might not implement every recommendation of the commission verbatim due to fiscal constraints. However, he expressed optimism that the proposal would satisfy the country's 1.5 million government employees, who have been waiting for a new scale since the last one was implemented in 2015.

A commission member told The Daily Campus that the final report will remain highly confidential. "No member will retain a copy of the recommendations; it will be held exclusively by the Chief Adviser to ensure the integrity of the process before the formal Advisory Council meeting," the member added.