The proposed Ninth National Pay Scale for government employees has been approved by the Cabinet, paving the way for a major revision to the country’s public-sector salary structure.
The proposal was approved at a special Cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat on Monday (August 31), chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The meeting considered proposals concerning the new salary structure and allowances for government officials and employees.
According to sources, the proposal was finalized based on recommendations from the Pay and Service Commission 2026 and a committee of secretaries formed to review the salary structure of government employees.
Under the proposed Ninth Pay Scale, the basic salary for Grade 1 has been proposed at Tk 156,000, while the basic salary for Grade 20 has been set at Tk 20,000.
Under the existing Eighth National Pay Scale, the maximum basic salary for Grade 1 is Tk 78,000, while the minimum basic salary for Grade 20 is Tk 8,250.
The proposed structure could increase basic salaries across different grades by 100% to 142%, according to sources familiar with the proposal.
The new salary structure is reportedly being considered effective from July 1, 2026. However, given the government's fiscal capacity and budgetary considerations, the increased salaries and allowances could be implemented in phases.
The government may also pay the arrears accrued from the effective date in installments.
Following Cabinet approval, the process of issuing an official gazette notification is expected to begin. The notification will clarify the salaries for Grades 1 through 20, various allowances and the detailed implementation procedure.
Sources at the Ministry of Finance said the gazette could be issued within the next one to two weeks, once the formal process is completed.
The Eighth National Pay Scale was last implemented in 2015. More than a decade later, approval of the proposed Ninth Pay Scale marks a significant step toward revising the salaries and benefits of government employees.
However, the exact date on which employees will begin receiving the revised salaries, as well as how the increased pay and arrears will be disbursed, will become clear only after the government issues the official gazette.
