Dhaka: National Pay Commission Chairman and Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) Chairman Zakir Ahmed Khan today informed Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus that the new national pay structure for public sector officials and employees will be finalized before the stipulated six-month timeline. “We have already started work in full swing. Although we have been given six months to determine the salary structure, we hope to submit the final report before that,” he said.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Zakir, who is also the former finance secretary, made these remarks during a meeting with the Chief Adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna. A delegation of the commission led by Zakir attended the meeting. During the discussion, he pointed out that salaries had not increased proportionately with inflation and GDP growth over the past decade.
The commission is working on several objectives, including forming a separate salary structure for specialized job categories, considering income tax payment in salary structure, and determining other allowances such as house rent, medical, and transportation. Additionally, they aim to establish a method for adjusting salaries with inflation, determining timely pensions and retirement benefits, and evaluating the quality of work of officers and employees.
Zakir also mentioned that the commission will recommend formulating a salary structure based on evaluation, rationalizing financial benefits like telephone, car, and mobile phone allowances, and eliminating discrepancies in salary grades and increments. The Chief Adviser instructed the commission to determine a reasonable salary structure for both government and autonomous officials and employees, ensuring it aligns with the current reality.
Professor Yunus strongly advocated for the introduction of a health insurance scheme for officials, emphasizing its importance. “This is crucial. Even if salaries are raised, one illness can wipe out a family’s savings. With insurance, families can live with security. Such models already exist in neighboring countries,” he stated.
The government has established the National Pay Commission after a decade to determine a new salary structure for government and autonomous officials. The commission will review and recommend the salaries, allowances, and other benefits for officials and employees of various government, semi-government, and autonomous organizations, including state-owned banks, financial institutions, approved universities, and state-owned industrial establishments under the national pay scale.
Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Chief Adviser’s Principal Secretary M Siraz Uddin Miah, and Secretary of the Public Administration Ministry Md Mokhles Ur Rahman were among those present at the meeting.