Pay rise yet to take effect
Rising living costs have heightened expectations among government employees for the implementation of a new pay structure, making the delay in publishing its official gazette a growing source of concern.
Although the government approved the new pay scale on 31 August after a gap of 10 years, nearly two weeks have passed without the formal notification being issued.
The delay has left many employees anxious, particularly as they had expected the long-awaited pay revision to provide some relief from persistent price pressures.
Officials and former bureaucrats, however, said there was no reason for disappointment, explaining that a decision of such scale and sensitivity requires several administrative, legal and financial procedures before it can take effect.
Contrary to some media reports that the draft notification had already been sent to the Law Ministry, discussions with senior officials of the Finance and Law Ministries found that the document is still being processed by the Finance Ministry and has not yet reached the Law Ministry for vetting.
Finance Ministry officials said the delay should not be viewed as a file being held up. Rather, they said additional time is needed to prepare an accurate and comprehensive notification setting out the salaries, allowances and other
benefits applicable to employees across different civilian and military sectors.
A major part of the work involves determining the precise framework and calculations for implementing the new pay structure in organisations outside the general civil administration.
These include the Army, Navy and Air Force, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police, government-owned banks and financial institutions, as well as various autonomous bodies.
Several Steps Before Gazette
Former Secretary Dr Md Anwar Ullah said Cabinet approval generally covers the broad policy framework for grade-based salary increases, while the Finance Ministry is responsible for preparing the detailed statutory orders and calculating how the approved increases will apply to different categories of employees.
Once the initial draft is completed, it is sent to the Law Ministry for legal vetting.
The ministry examines the proposed provisions for possible conflicts with the Constitution and existing service laws, as well as any legal ambiguity that could lead to complications later.
After receiving legal clearance, the final draft is sent to the Government Printing Press (BG Press) for printing. The formal notification is issued after the printing process is completed.
The process, therefore, involves more than simply issuing a gazette following the Cabinet’s approval.
The government must first translate the policy decision into detailed provisions covering the salaries, allowances and benefits of employees across a wide range of institutions.
Past Precedent
The present delay is not considered unusual by some former senior bureaucrats, who point to the time required to complete previous pay-scale procedures.
The Eighth National Pay Scale received final Cabinet approval on September 7, 2015, but the Finance Ministry issued the final notification about three and a half months later, on December 15.
Experienced bureaucrats, including former Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumder, therefore do not consider the absence of a gazette within two weeks of the latest Cabinet approval to be exceptional.
Senior officials at the Law Ministry said they would begin the vetting process once the draft reaches them from the Finance Ministry.
Finance Ministry sources, meanwhile, expressed optimism that the formal notification for the new pay structure would be issued soon after the remaining administrative, financial and legal procedures are completed.
For government employees facing sustained pressure from higher prices, however, the formal gazette remains crucial.
Until the notification is issued, the Cabinet-approved pay structure cannot move from a policy decision to an implemented salary framework.
