Interim govt will not implement new pay scale for public servants: Adviser Fouzul
A committee headed by the cabinet secretary has been formed to examine the Pay Commission’s recommendations, and the final decision will be taken by the next government.
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan has said the interim government has not taken any decision to implement a new pay scale for government employees, despite accepting the Pay Commission's report.
He said the current interim government has only around 15 days remaining in office and will not take any steps regarding the implementation of the new pay structure during this period.
The adviser made the remarks today (27 January) while responding to journalists after a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Government Purchase at the Secretariat. As the finance adviser was unwell, Fouzul Kabir Khan briefed the media on the government's position regarding the Pay Commission and other economic issues.
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He said a committee headed by the cabinet secretary has been formed to examine the Pay Commission's recommendations, adding that the final decision would be taken by the next government.
Amid ongoing discussions over a revised pay structure for public servants, the power adviser clarified that although there had been demands for a pay commission from government employees for the past 10 to 15 years, the current government has not decided to implement the commission's recommendations.
"The Pay Commission's recommendations are not meant for direct implementation. A committee led by the cabinet secretary has been formed to scrutinise them, including the issue of financial resources. The next government will decide whether to implement or modify them," he said.
Fouzul Kabir Khan noted that if the Pay Commission's recommendations were implemented in full, the estimated cost could be as high as Tk1.6 lakh crore, which represents the maximum possible estimate. He added that pay scales are usually implemented in phases to avoid putting excessive pressure on the government's finances.
He said the interim government's limited tenure means it is focusing on preparatory work for the next administration.
"We have prepared master plans for the power and energy sector and the multimodal transport sector, which will be implemented by the next government. The Pay Commission issue falls within the same framework," he added.
The adviser also said the government is mindful of preventing unrest or agitation among public servants and ensuring a smooth transition when the next government takes office. However, he stressed, "Accepting the Pay Commission's report does not mean implementing its recommendations."
He further claimed that the Pay Commission has no link to rising commodity prices, noting that since no implementation decision has been taken, there is no question of any inflationary impact.
Responding to a question about reports of a proposal to construct 9,000-square-foot apartments for ministers, he said he had not seen any such proposal and that no such plan had been placed before the Advisory Committee on Government Purchase.
