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The basic salary of government employees is likely to increase by up to 130% under the proposed new national pay scale, as the long-awaited pay structure reform moves into its final approval stage after more than a decade.
Officials said the National Pay Commission has recommended a salary increase ranging from 100% to 142% across different grades in the proposed ninth pay scale. The final structure is now being reviewed by a committee led by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani.
According to government sources, the committee is expected to submit its final report to the Finance Ministry within the week. The proposal will then be sent to the Prime Minister for approval, with the new pay scale likely to be published through a gazette notification by mid-July if endorsed.
The government is planning to implement the revised pay structure in two phases. The Finance Division has already prepared for implementation following approval at the highest level.
Under the proposed restructuring of the existing 20-grade system, officials said employees in grades 1 to 10 may receive around a 100% increase, while those in grades 11 to 20 could see an average increase of up to 130 percent.
A total allocation of Tk 44,000 crore has been set aside in the proposed FY2026-27 budget to implement the new pay structure, covering government employees, pensioners and MPO-enlisted teachers and staff.
Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury had earlier announced that the new pay scale would take effect from July 1, although detailed implementation procedures are yet to be finalised.
The eighth national pay scale was implemented in 2015. Officials say the new structure aims to address the significant rise in living costs over the past 11 years and improve the standard of living of government employees.
At present, the government spends around Tk 131,000 crore annually on salaries and pensions for approximately 1.4 million employees and 900,000 pensioners. The cost is expected to rise substantially once the new pay scale is implemented.
Authorities are also considering technical and administrative challenges, including integration with the IBAS++ system, while finalising whether the pay hike will be implemented in phases or at once. Final approval from the Prime Minister’s Office will be decisive in this regard.
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