Ninth pay scale to be implemented over 2yrs

Secretaries’ committee finalises proposal in principle

13 August 2026

Baharam Khan

The government is planning to implement the ninth pay scale for its employees over two fiscal years, according to sources in the secretaries’ committee formed to deal with a proposal.

The committee, led by the cabinet secretary, met yesterday and finalised the pay scale proposal in principle for placement before the cabinet.

According to the draft proposal, partial implementation of the ninth pay scale would begin in July this year retrospectively and the implementional would be completed by January 2028 in phases.

A member of the secretaries’ committee, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Daily Star, “The cabinet, however, will finalise the number of phases for implementation.”

An official in the finance ministry echoed his remarks.

On July 26, the Finance Division briefed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on the nineth pay scale. The proposal was drafted in light of the discussion, two senior government sources told The Daily Star.

A source, who was present during the briefing, said lower-grade employees would receive relatively larger increases than higher-grade employees.

Asked for his opinion, public administration expert and former additional secretary Firoz Mia told The Daily Star, “The salaries of lower-grade employees should be increased by 100 percent at once, instead of in phases. I do not see any problem if the salaries of higher-grade employees are not increased initially.

“Higher-grade employees receive many benefits besides their salaries, but lower-grade employees are in great distress. The government should consider this matter,” he added.

Meanwhile, a Cabinet Division source said complications over judicial matters arose during the finalisation of the ninth pay scale. To address them, the government formed a seven-member cabinet committee on August 6, led by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, to finalise the pay scale for judicial employees.