9th pay scale: basic pay from July 1, allowances likely from 2027–28

The long-anticipated new salary structure for government employees is likely to be implemented in two phases. According to planning, the new basic pay under the revised pay structure may take effect from July 1, while allowances could be implemented from the beginning of the 2027–28 fiscal year. The rate of salary increase may also be slightly reduced compared to the recommendations of the 9th Pay Commission, sources at the Ministry of Finance said.

Officials from the Finance Division said that the implementation committee for the 9th Pay Scale initially recommended introducing the new pay structure in three phases. Under that proposal, 50% of the recommended basic pay would be implemented from July 1, the remaining 50% from July 1, 2027, and allowances from the 2028–29 fiscal year.

However, this phased approach has created complications. In many cases, annual increments have already pushed current basic salaries to a level where implementing even 50% of the new structure would result in only a marginal increase in take-home pay. In some cases, there is even a risk that total salaries could decrease. Following objections from government employees, the implementation committee revised its plan.

Under the new proposal, the recommendation is to implement the revised basic pay from July 1, and introduce the new allowances from the 2027–28 fiscal year.

A source said that if the government had sufficient fiscal capacity, the new pay structure would have been implemented all at once. However, a phased approach is now considered more realistic. Discussions are also ongoing regarding increasing efficiency in revenue collection among government employees.

Earlier, during the national budget presentation on June 11, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said that government employees have been receiving salaries under the same structure for nearly 11 years. Due to inflation during this period, the cost of living has increased significantly. Therefore, the new pay structure will be implemented in phases starting from July 1.

On April 21, a 10-member committee headed by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani was formed to review the recommendations of the 9th Pay Commission. The committee includes the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Finance Secretary, Public Administration Secretary, Law Secretary, Defence Secretary, Secondary and Higher Education Secretary, Health Services Secretary, the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, and the Controller General of Accounts. Sources indicate that separate pay structure reports for the civil administration, judiciary, and armed forces are nearly finalized, and only official gazette notification is pending.