NPSC devising way to stop corruption, spur productivity

The National Pay and Services Commission (NPSC) will recommend a hike in salary structure for government officials and employees to such an extent that it could be able to help prevent corruption and encourage productivity of public servants, it has been learnt.
"We will propose salary enhancement for government officials, taking some issues including reduction in corruption, ensuring transparency and enhancement of their productivity into consideration," Dr Mohammed Farashuddin, chairman of the commission and former governor of Bangladesh Bank, told reporters after a meeting of the commission.
The second meeting of the commission was held at the Bangladesh Public Administration Academy conference room.
The commission will calculate six family members against each of the government officials and employees while proposing the final salary hike for them, Dr Farashuddin said adding that traditionally a four-member family is taken into consideration, while fixing salary for the public servants.
"The main philosophy of the commission is that the salary of government officials should be stable enough so that they can meet their family expenditure even if the rate of inflation increases," the commission chairman said.
The commission could not fix any date for completing its task, but the chairman said that it would take at least one year.
Dr Farashuddin said the commission has already finalised a roadmap for the task and reviewed previous commission's activities.
When asked about whether the Pay Commission would include salary for the private sector officials, Farashuddin said the private sector could consider the recommended salary structure as a base in setting salary for its staff.
Replying to a question on whether a separate pay structure for government bank officials would be formed, the chairman said if the government desired so it could do it.
The previous Awami League government earlier formed a 17-member Pay and Services Commission, on November 21 last year.
The commission comprises the chairman, a member-secretary, three permanent members and 12 temporary members.
The three permanent members are former secretaries Abul Kashem, Sheikh Khurshid Alam, and former Comptroller and Auditor General Sahad Chowdhury.
The commission became effective from December 17, 2013, and it would submit its report to the government within one year of its formation.
The commission will recommend a time-befitting and proper salary structure for the government officials and employees after reviewing salary, allowances and other benefits fixed under the State-Owned Manufacturing Industries Workers (Terms and Conditions of Service) Ordnance, 1985.
It will also recommend a suitable method for consolidating salaries of the government servants keeping pace with inflation.
Earlier in 2008, during the army-backed caretaker government, the 7th Pay Commission was formed, subsequently raising the salaries of public servants on July 1, 2009.