Proposal for new pay scale from 2025 July

The Bangladesh Secretariat Officers-Employees Joint Council has submitted 20 proposals to the Pay Commission, including raising the government job entry age to 35 years and providing ration. The council’s representatives handed over the proposals during a views-exchange meeting with the commission at the Secretariat on Sunday. They also proposed making the new pay scale effective from July 1 this year.

The council demanded a 1:4 ratio between highest and lowest salary, fixing the minimum basic pay at Tk 35,000, and restructuring the existing 20 grades into 12. The written submission called for reinstating time scale and selection grade with uniform tenure and rate for every post, or replacing the current two higher grades with four higher grades to be granted every four years.

Leaders demanded increasing the education allowance per child from the existing Tk 500 to four tiers: Tk 2,000 for primary level, Tk 4,000 for secondary school level, Tk 6,000 for college level, and Tk 8,000 for university level. For medical allowance, they proposed Tk 4,000 at entry (from Tk 1,500), Tk 6,000 after 10 years of service, and Tk 8,000 after 20 years. For those aged over 65, the monthly medical allowance should be Tk 15,000 (from Tk 2,500), while for other pensioners it should be Tk 10,000 (from Tk 1,500) or medical insurance coverage up to Tk 10 lakh.

The officials and employees also demanded increase in tiffin and transport allowances and inclusion of Grade-10 staff in these benefits, besides ration and Secretariat allowance for Secretariat personnel.

Proposing increase in service and entry age, the council leaders said average life expectancy in Bangladesh has risen from 70 to 73 years as per government data. In many countries, the entry age for government jobs is 40 years or above. Though the entry age in Bangladesh was recently raised from 30 to 32 years, the two-year increase is insufficient. Considering the rise in life expectancy and present context, retirement age should be 62 years (from 59) and entry age 35 years (from 32). They also demanded recreation leave every two years (instead of three) and voluntary retirement after 15 years of service (instead of 25).

Additionally, the 9th National Pay Commission should be made effective from July 1, 2025, the council proposed. The Secretariat Officers-Employees Joint Council believes 10 years have already passed. Previous pay scales were implemented from July 1. Annual increments for employees start from July 1 and the fiscal year also begins on July 1. Therefore, considering all aspects, the 9th national pay scale should be effective from July 1, 2025, with arrears payable from January 1, 2026.