Delay in announcing pay scale frustrates govt officials
Monday, 3 August 2009
Sheikh Shahariar Zaman
The delay in announcing the new government pay scale has created resentment among the officials.
"In the budget the finance minister declared that the new pay-scale would be effective from July 1 but this is August and we still don't know when it will be announced," said a frustrated government official.
There is a widespread fear that the prices of essentials will go up immediately after the new scale is declared and this might be holding back the announcement specially with Ramadan drawing closer, he said.
The government has kept aside Tk 31 billion in block allocation to meet the new pay scale costs -which means every month Tk 2.5 billion will be paid in addition to regular salary.
"It is obvious that the prices will go up when the pay-scale will be declared and the government should have thought about it before announcing it in the budget," the official said.
The government could have declared 10 per cent more dearness allowance for the time being and implement the new pay-scale from January next year. This way prices could have remained stable during both the Eids, he explained.
"The government should clear its stance as it will remove speculation," he added.
The secretaries' committee on pay-scale has finalised its recommendation and submitted it to the government but it is less likely that the suggestions will be placed before the cabinet meeting for approval today (Monday).
"Many government officials speculated that the pay-scale would be effective from July as there were many rumours spread in the secretariat and many reports were published in newspapers," said another official.
The secretaries' committee has fixed the maximum salary at Tk 40,000 for secretaries and lowest Tk 4,100 for class four employees and increased benefits for pensioners and lower grade officials.
Increments of each employee will be considered as it was done in 2005, said an official of the finance ministry.
"Under the new pay-scale, income tax will be paid by the government officials themselves," he said.
The officials pay for income tax under the existing system but it is refunded to them.
The delay in announcing the new government pay scale has created resentment among the officials.
"In the budget the finance minister declared that the new pay-scale would be effective from July 1 but this is August and we still don't know when it will be announced," said a frustrated government official.
There is a widespread fear that the prices of essentials will go up immediately after the new scale is declared and this might be holding back the announcement specially with Ramadan drawing closer, he said.
The government has kept aside Tk 31 billion in block allocation to meet the new pay scale costs -which means every month Tk 2.5 billion will be paid in addition to regular salary.
"It is obvious that the prices will go up when the pay-scale will be declared and the government should have thought about it before announcing it in the budget," the official said.
The government could have declared 10 per cent more dearness allowance for the time being and implement the new pay-scale from January next year. This way prices could have remained stable during both the Eids, he explained.
"The government should clear its stance as it will remove speculation," he added.
The secretaries' committee on pay-scale has finalised its recommendation and submitted it to the government but it is less likely that the suggestions will be placed before the cabinet meeting for approval today (Monday).
"Many government officials speculated that the pay-scale would be effective from July as there were many rumours spread in the secretariat and many reports were published in newspapers," said another official.
The secretaries' committee has fixed the maximum salary at Tk 40,000 for secretaries and lowest Tk 4,100 for class four employees and increased benefits for pensioners and lower grade officials.
Increments of each employee will be considered as it was done in 2005, said an official of the finance ministry.
"Under the new pay-scale, income tax will be paid by the government officials themselves," he said.
The officials pay for income tax under the existing system but it is refunded to them.