Long-Awaited Ninth National Pay Scale Takes Effect Today

The highly anticipated Ninth National Pay Scale for government employees becomes effective from today, Wednesday (July 1). Although the new pay scale, which is set to be implemented in two phases, enters into force today, the increased salaries may only reflect from upcoming September or October.

During his budget speech, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury announced the implementation of the new pay scale starting from July 1. However, he did not elaborate on the specific details regarding how the rollout would be executed.

In his address, the Finance Minister stated, "We are announcing the phased implementation of a new salary structure for government employees starting from July 1, 2026. For the past 11 years, government employees have been receiving salaries and allowances under the same framework, whereas the cost of living has risen significantly due to inflation."

Meanwhile, the Secretaries' Committee, formed to re-evaluate the pay scale recommendations, has called a meeting early next week to finalize decisions regarding the new structure. It is learned that the meeting will solidify decisions across three specific areas concerning the three commissions. Following this, the report will be submitted to the Ministry of Finance. Subsequently, the Ministry of Finance will forward the Secretaries' Committee's recommendations to the Prime Minister’s Office. The official gazette will be issued upon receiving the Prime Minister's approval.

Speaking to The Daily Campus on condition of anonymity, a top official from the Ministry of Finance said, "The Secretaries' Committee has reviewed the recommendations of the three commissions and finalized a draft in principle. Another meeting will be held next week before submitting these recommendations to the Ministry of Finance. In that meeting, three separate decisions concerning the civil administration, the judiciary, and the armed forces will be finalized."

Pay scale implementation in two phases

Although plans were initially introduced to implement the pay scale in three phases, the Secretaries' Committee reviewing the recommendations has now moved away from that stance. Officials concerned have indicated a new plan to execute the implementation in two phases. In the first phase, this may incur an expenditure of BDT 44,000 crore.

It is reported that multiple proposals were discussed at the policymaking level to execute the new structure. The Finance Division considers it logical to implement the full basic salary at one go to avoid complications in the government accounting system, Integrated Budget and Accounting System (iBAS++). Consequently, the committee intends to complete the overall process in two distinct stages. In this regard, 100 percent of the basic salary might be increased in the first phase, starting from the current fiscal year. Following this, allowances and other benefits will be enhanced in the second phase, during the upcoming 2027-28 fiscal year.

Gazette by mid-July

Relevant sources within the Ministry of Finance indicated that the official gazette for the two-phase Ninth National Pay Scale for government employees will be issued once the Prime Minister approves the plan. The Ministry of Finance is likely to publish the gazette by mid-July.

Another official from the Ministry of Finance, requesting anonymity, stated, "There is a strong possibility that the pay scale gazette will be issued by mid-July. If it is delayed past the middle of the month, the gazette will be published the following week."