Govt approves 5% house rent allowance for MPO teachers
The allowance has been set at 5% of the basic salary, with the minimum amount being at least Tk2,000
The Ministry of Finance has approved the house rent allowance at 5% of basic salary or minimum Tk2,000 for MPO-listed teachers of non-government educational institutions who have been staging demonstrations for several demands for eight consecutive days.
The ministry today (19 October) gave its approval on the decision to increase the house rent allowance for MPO-listed teachers and employees of non-government educational institutions, who have been protesting for eight consecutive days.
A notification, signed by Deputy Secretary Mariam Mitu of the Regulation Wing-1 of the Finance Division under the ministry, stated: "In light of the above subject and references, and considering the existing budgetary limitations of the government, approval has been granted for the payment of house rent allowance to MPO-listed teachers and employees working in non-government educational institutions at a rate of 5% of the basic salary (minimum Tk2,000), subject to the fulfillment of the following conditions."
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The notification includes several conditions for the disbursement of this allowance, such as: The aforementioned house rent allowance must be adjusted subsequently according to the National Pay Scale.
Appointment conditions must also be fulfilled in accordance with the 'Non-Government Educational Institutions (School and College) Teacher-Employee MPO Policy-2021,' 'Non-Government Educational Institutions (Madrasah) Teacher-Employee MPO Policy 2018 (amended to 23 November 2020),' and 'Non-Government Educational Institutions (Vocational, Business Management, Agricultural Diploma, and Fisheries Diploma) Manpower Structure and MPO Policy-2018' and all related notifications, orders, circulars, and policies issued by the government.
Additionally, MPO-listed non-government teachers and employees will not be entitled to any arrears regarding this allowance increase while also strictly following all financial regulations when disbursing the allowance.
The notification also states that if any irregularity is found in the expenditure related to this allowance in future, the authority responsible for bill payment will be held accountable for the irregularity.
MPO-listed teachers and employees have been protesting, demanding an increase in the house rent allowance. In August, they held a mass rally in Dhaka and demanded that the house rent allowance be based on a percentage of their basic salary.
However, the finance ministry issued a notification on 30 September, increasing the house rent by only Tk500. When that notification came to light on Teacher's Day, 5 October, it drew widespread criticism. The teachers subsequently rejected that notification and have been on protest since then.
