Frustration being grown-up over new pay-scale

Staff Correspondent:Dissatisfaction is being grown-up among the third and fourth grade of government staff as they feared to be discriminated in the new pay-scale prepared for the public servant.

Leaders of Bangladesh Government Employees Coordination Parishad on Monday expressed their concern in this regard.

They alleged, "If the government, according to their previous decision, cancels staff`s time scale and selection grade, a total of 12.50 lakh government staff will be discriminated in getting their salaries."

The president and the secretary of the Parishad met the Finance Minister AMA Muhith at his secretariat office in the capital on the day and they placed some of their demands in this connection to the minister.

But refusing their displeasures over the new pay-scale the Minister, however, clarified, "There is no reason behind their frustration, because they will get higher salaries in the new pay-scale autogeneratedly."

Earlier the Finance Minister AMA Muhith has said, two or three more months are needed to finalise the new pay-scale for all government officials in the country.

"The new pay-scale will take two or three months to finalise but it will come into effect from July 1," the Minister also said recently.

Earlier in June 2015, the Minister also confirmed, "The new pay scale will come into effect from July 1," while he also said, "This may be the last pay-scale for the government officials."

Before this, the authorities concerned, have handed over the recommendations of the secretary-level committee, regarding the proposed new pay scale for the public servants, to the Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith.

According to the report, the minimum wage was set at Tk8,250 from Tk8,000 while the maximum wage was fixed at Tk75,000 from Tk80,000.

About Tk.13 crore more was suggested to include in new pay scale for fiscal year 2015-16.

The government last year formed the 8th National Pay and Services Commission headed by Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Farashuddin. And a secretary-level committee was formed to review the recommendations of the pay commission in last January.

According to the proposal, the existing 20 pay grades would be reduced to 16 grades, while classification of posts – such as distinctions between first-class and fourth-class employees – would be cancelled to introduce only grade-based identification.

Only monetary difference would remain between two separate grades, with a total of 20 tiers suggested between the ninth grade and the 16th grade.

The commission also suggested withdrawing the efficiency bar – a regulation that has existed since colonial times, to stop the increment for officials after a certain level.

The selection grade and time scale would also be withdrawn, as these have prompted many cases to be filed with courts, meaning government employees would only reach higher grades through promotion.

Officials would also enjoy an annual compound 5% increment in every grade, resulting in the salary of fourth to sixteenth grade employees to double within 15 years.

However, according to the proposal, a senior secretary’s basic salary would be fixed at Tk88,000, while the basic salaries of the cabinet secretary and the PM’s principal secretary would be Tk100,000. They would be paid 5% to 10% of the basic salary or Tk4,000 for any additional duty.

The main objective of the pay hike of the civil servants was to provide incentive and curb on corruption among the civil servants employed in the country.

On November 24 last year, the government formed the commission to work pay revision of its 13 lakh employees.

risingbd/ DHAKA/ August 3, 2015/ Hasnath/ Mahfuz